GIFT   OF 
A,   F.   Morrison 


/■* 


PHRASES  AND  NAMES 
THEIR    ORIGINS    AND 

MEANINGS 


PHRASES  AND  NAMES 

THEIR    ORIGINS    AND 

MEANINGS 

BY 

TRENCH    H.  JOHNSON 


1  How  did  such  and  such  a  country,  city, 
town,  street,  river,  natural  curiosity,  or 
world-renowned  edifice  obtain  its  name? 
Whence  arose  a  particular  sobriquet,  nick- 
name, byword,  epithet,  or  slang  term  ? 
What  was  the  origin  of  the  thousand- 
and-one  phrases  and  expressions  engrafted 
upon  our  vocabulary  which  would  appear 
to  have  no  meaning  whatever?  These 
things  are  worthy  of  investigation ." 


PHILADELPHIA 

J.    B.    LIPPINCOTT    COMPANY 

LONDON 

T.   WERNER   LAURIE 


•Ill 

Jll 


PREFACE 

Few  words  are  necessary  to  introduce  this  work  to  the  reader. 
It  partakes  of  the  nature  of  an  encyclopedia,  with  the  saving 
clause  that  the  information  it  sets  forth  is  confined  to  a  plain 
statement  of  facts.  Verbal  embellishments  have  been  studiously 
avoided.  Those  who  seek  for  additional  intelligence  may  easily 
obtain  it  from  ordinarily  available  sources.  To  account  for  the 
origin  of  popular  phrases  and  names  has  been  the  author's  sole 
design.  To  the  best  of  his  knowledge ,  no  other  work  of  the  kind 
exists.  From  the  stores  of  his  own  knowledge,  acquired  through 
many  years  of  omnivorous  reading,  patient  inquiry,  and  investi- 
gation, he  has  been  enabled  to  bring  together  an  Olla  podrida 
which  should  go  far  towards  supplying  a  want. 

The  origin  of  place-names  is  interesting  in  that  it  opens  up  the 
history  of  peoples  and  the  civilising  influences,  if  so  one  might 
term  it,  of  conquest.  London  street-names,  in  particular ,  convey 
i? i  one  word  to  a  person  of  antiquarian  tastes  as  much  meaning 
as  "  a  volume  of  forgotten  lore."  As  to  phrases  and  expres- 
sions, the  author  has  made  a  special  study  of  the  subject.  A 
great  many  Americanisms  have  been  included,  but  as  the 
number  is  daily  increasing  it  would  require  a  monthly  publica- 
tion of  such  home-made  phrases  to  keep  fully  abreast  with  the 
times.  That  nothing  should  be  wanting  in  the  way  of  ex- 
haustiveness ,  it  has  been  thought  advisable  to  incorporate  in  the 

M94426 


vi  Preface 

text  a  number  of  slang  terms  and  expressions  which  daily  assail 
one's  ears.  To  the  author  the  compilation  of  this  volume  has 
been  a  pleasant  recreation  in  the  intervals  of  more  exacting 
literary  labours.  If  it  be  found  to  contain  a  plethora  of  good 
things y  the  reader  willy  of  course,  take  them  out  in  small 
doses. 

T.  H.  J. 

London,  1906. 


Phrases    and    Names 


Al.  An  expression  meaning  "first-rate."  Derived  from 
Lloyd's  "  Registry  of  Shipping,"  in  which  letters  denote 
the  quality  of  a  ship's  hull,  and  figures  that  of  its 
equipment.  A  vessel  registered  Ai  is  of  the  first  class 
in  all  respects. 

Abbey  Laird.  An  insolvent  debtor  who  in  former  times 
sought  the  sanctuary  of  the  precincts  of  Holyrood 
Abbey  against  arrest. 

Abbey  Road.  From  the  ancient  abbey  of  the  Holy  Virgins 
of  St  John  the  Baptist  in  St  John's  Wood. 

Abbotsford.  The  name  given  by  Sir  Walter  Scott  to  his 
residence  on  the  banks  of  the  Tweed,  from  the  poetical 
assumption  that  the  abbots  of  Melrose  must  have 
forded  the  stream  hereabouts  in  olden  times. 

A. B.C.  Girls.  Waitresses  at  the  depots  of  the  Aerated  Bread 
Company  Limited. 

Aberdeen.  From  the  Celtic  aber,  estuary,  confluence  j  the 
town  at  the  mouth  of  the  Dee. 

Abernethy  Biscuits.  From  the  name  of  the  baker  who 
introduced  them.  Their  connection  with  Dr  Aber- 
nethy was  repudiated  by  the  great  physician  himself. 

Aberystwith.     The  town  at  the  mouth  of  the  Ystwith. 

Abigail.  The  generic  name  for  a  waiting-maid,  in  allusion 
to  the  handmaid  who  introduced  herself  to  David 
(i  Sam.  xxv.  23).  Its  popularity  during  the  second 
half  of  the  seventeenth  century  may  be  accounted  for 


2       Abingdon — According  to  Gunter 

by  the  fact  that  the  maiden  name  of  Mrs  Masham,  the 
waiting-woman  of  Queen  Anne,  was  Abigail  Hill. 

Abingdon.  A  corruption  of  Abbendon,  the  town  of  abbeys, 
being  a  place  famed  for  religious  houses  far  back  in 
Anglo-Saxon  days. 

Abingdon  Street.     From  the  ancient  town  residence  of  the 
. . .  r  .Earls  o.f  .Abingdon. 

Ab^ej  P&rk:  .'.lErom   Abney  House,  now  a  Conservative 
'Club,'  the  'residence  of  Sir  Thomas  Abney,  Lord  Mayor 
;•  i§f£phxk>h.   jDr.  Is"aac  Watts  passed  away  at  Abney 
• :  .fifaSe  'iji  :i.%4&*  »\ .,  / 

Abode  of  Love.     See  "  Agapemonites." 

Abolitionists.  The  party  sworn  to  the  total  and  im- 
mediate abolition  of  slavery  in  the  United  States. 

Above  Board.  Open,  not  playing  an  underhanded  game. 
The  owners  of  the  gaming-tables  on  a  race-course  un- 
suspectedly  regulated  the  issue  of  the  spinning  hand 
on  the  board  by  means  of  a  treadle. 

Abraham  Newlands.  Bank  of  England  notes,  so  called 
from  the  signature  they  bore  early  in  the  last  century. 

Absinthe.     From  the  Greek  apsnithion^  wormwood. 

Absquatulate.  A  Far- West  Americanism.  A  squatter 
who  suddenly  left  his  claim  was  said  to  have  absquatu- 
lated. 

Abyssinia.    The  country  of  the  Abassins,  or  "  mixed  races." 

Academy.  From  the  garden  of  Academus,  where  Plato 
taught  his  disciples ;  called  on  this  account  the  Aca- 
demics, or  Academic  School  of  Philosophy. 

According  to  Cocker.  Strictly  correct.  After  Edward 
Cocker  of  Paul's  Chain,  who  published  a  most  popular 
arithmetic. 

According  to  Gunter.  An  expression  much  used  in 
America  for  anything  done  properly  and  systematically. 
The  allusion  is  to  Edmund  Gunter,  the  celebrated 
mathematician,  who  invented  a  chain  and  scale  for 
measuring. 


Achilles  Tendon — Actors'  Day        3 

Achilles  Tendon.  The  tendon  reaching  from  the  calf  of 
the  leg  to  the  heel.     See  "  Heel  of  Achilles." 

Acknowledge  the  Corn.  An  Americanism  of  extremely 
popular  application.  Its  origin  is  thus  given  by  The 
Pittsburg  Commercial  Advertiser  \  "  Some  years  ago  a 
raw  customer  from  the  upper  country  determined  to 
try  his  fortune  at  New  Orleans.  Accordingly  he  pro- 
vided himself  with  two  flat  boats — one  laden  with  corn 
and  the  other  with  potatoes — and  down  the  river  he 
went.  The  night  after  his  arrival  he  went  up  town  to 
a  gambling-house.  Of  course,  he  commenced  betting, 
and,  his  luck  proving  unfortunate,  he  lost.  When  his 
money  was  gone  he  bet  his  '  truck ' ;  and  the  corn  and 
potatoes  followed  the  money.  At  last,  when  evidently 
cleaned  out,  he  returned  to  his  boats  at  the  wharf, 
where  the  evidences  of  a  new  misfortune  presented 
themselves.  Through  some  accident  or  other  the  flat 
boat  containing  the  corn  was  sunk,  and  a  total  loss. 
Consoling  himself  as  well  as  he  could  he  went  to  sleep, 
dreaming  of  gamblers,  potatoes,  and  corn.  It  was 
scarcely  sunrise,  however,  when  he  was  disturbed  by 
the  'child  of  chance,'  who  had  arrived  to  take  posses- 
sion of  the  two  boats  as  his  winnings.  Slowly  awaken- 
ing from  his  sleep,  our  hero,  rubbing  his  eyes  and 
looking  the  man  in  the  face,  replied :  '  Stranger,  I 
acknowledge  the  corn — take  'em  \  but  the  potatoes  you 
can't  have,  by  thunder ! '  Since  that  time  it  has  be- 
come customary  for  a  man  who  frankly  admits  having 
been  hoaxed  or  beaten  to  say:  'I  acknowledge  the 
corn.'" 

Acropolis.  From  the  Greek  akros,  highest,  and  poll's,  city. 
A  citadel  or  fortress  overlooking  a  city,  as  at  Athens. 

Acton.  Anglo-Saxon  for  "  Oak  Town,"  built  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  a  great  oak  forest. 

Actors'  Day.  A  day — the  third  Thursday  in  October — set 
apart  for  a  performance  in  all  the  theatres  of  the 
United  Kingdom  in  aid  of  the  various  theatrical 
charities — actors  being  pledged  to  give  their  services, 
dramatic  authors  to  forego  their  fees,  and  managers  to 
devote  the  entire  receipts  to  the  good  cause. 


4  Adam  Street — Adrianople 

Adam  Street.  After  the  Brothers  Adam,  who  built  the 
streets  collectively  styled  the  "Adelphi." 

Adam's  Needle.  A  plant  so  called  from  its  long,  pointed 
leaves.  Whether  he  and  his  spouse  strung  their  aprons 
together  by  its  means  is  doubtful. 

Adam's  Wine.  Drinking  water,  because  Adam  knew  not 
the  fermented  juice  of  the  grape. 

Ada  Rehan.  This  American  actress  is  of  Irish  extraction, 
her  name  being  "  Regan,"  but  on  entering  the  dramatic 
profession  she  changed  it  to  "  Rehan." 

Addison  of  the  North.  The  literary  sobriquet  of  Henry 
Fielding,  author  of  "  The  Man  of  Feeling,"  on  account 
of  the  purity  and  elegance  of  his  style. 

Addison  Road.  After  the  great  English  essayist,  who, 
having  married  the  Dowager  Countess  of  Warwick, 
lived  and  died  at  Holland  House,  Kensington. 

Addled  Parliament.  A  memorable  session  during  the 
reign  of  James  I.,  which,  though  it  lasted  from  5th 
April  1614  to  7th  June  1615,  passed  no  new  measure 
whatever. 

Adelaide.  The  capital  of  South  Australia,  an  island,  and 
also  a  noted  hostelry  on  Haverstock  Hill,  named  in 
honour  of  the  consort  of  William  IV. 

Adelphi.  The  collective  name  for  several  streets  and  a 
noble  terrace  on  the  south  side  of  the  Strand,  built  by 
the  Brothers  Adam.     Adelphi  is  Greek  for  "  brothers." 

Adieu.     Originally  a  popular  commendation  to  the  care  of 

God— A  Dieu  ! 
Adonis.     The  name  given  to  a  beautiful  youth,  and  also  to 

the  anemone,  after  Adonis,  who  was  beloved  by  Venus. 

The  flower  is  said  to  have  sprung  from  his  blood  when 

he  was  gored  to  death  by  a  wild  boar  in  the  chase. 

Admirable  Crichton.  The  designation  of  one  accomplished 
in  all  the  arts.  "Admirable"  Crichton  was  a  noted 
Scottish  prodigy  of  the  sixteenth  century. 

Admiral.     From  the  Arabic  emir-el-bahr,  Lord  of  the  Sea. 

Adrianople.     The  city  founded  by  the  Emperor  Hadrian. 


Adriatic  Sea — Agar  Street  5 

Adriatic  Sea.     After  the  Emperor  Hadrian. 

Adullamites.  Those  who  in  1866  seceded  from  the  Reform 
Party.  John  Bright  said  they  had  retired  to  the  Cave 
of  Adullam,  there  to  gather  around  them  all  the  dis- 
contented. The  allusion  was  to  David's  flight  from 
Saul  (1.  Sam.  xxii.  1,  2). 

Ad  valorem.  A  Customs  term  for  duties  levied  according 
to  the  stated  value  of  goods  imported.  The  duty  on 
various  qualities  of  the  same  goods  may  therefore 
differ. 

JEdiles.  Civil  officers  of  Rome  who  had  the  care  of  the 
streets  and  cedes,  or  public  buildings. 

JEolian  Harp.  A  lute  placed  in  the  trees  for  the  zephyrs 
to  play  upon,  so  called  after  ^iolus,  the  god  of  the 
winds. 

^sculapius.  The  generic  term  for  a  physician,  after  the 
one  of  this  name  mentioned  by  Homer,  who  was 
afterwards  deified  in  the  Greek  mythology. 

Afghanistan.  Pursuant  to  the  Persian  start,  the  country  of 
the  Afghans. 

Africa.  From  the  Phoenician  afer,  a  black  man,  and  the 
Sanskrit  ac,  earth,  land,  country.  This  great  continent 
is  the  natural  home  of  the  blacks — the  negroes  of  North 
America  and  the  West  Indian  Islands  being  descended 
from  the  slaves  carried  thither  from  the  west  coast  of 
Africa  since  the  time  of  the  original  slave  trader,  Sir 
John  Hawkins,  in  1562. 

Agapse.  Love  feasts  of  the  Romans,  from  the  Greek 
agape,  love. 

Agapemonites.  An  old  term  which  has  newly  come  into 
vogue  in  our  day.  Agapemone  is  Greek  for  "abode  of 
love."  There  was  such  a  retreat  early  in  the  nineteenth 
century  at  Charlynch,  Somerset,  the  seat  of  the 
Agapemonists  or  Agapemonites,  followers  of  Henry 
James  Prince,  an  ex-Churchman. 

Agar  Street.  After  William  Agar,  a  wealthy  lawyer,  who 
resided  in  it.     See  "Agar  Town." 


6  Agar  Town — A  la  Guillotine 

Agar  Town.  A  now  vanished  district  covered  by  St 
Pancras  Railway  Station,  the  lease  of  which  was  ac- 
quired by  William  Agar  in  1840  for  building  purposes. 

Agate.  From  Achates,  the  Greek  name  of  a  Sicilian  river, 
in  the  bed  of  which  this  gem  was  found  in  abundance. 

Agnostic.  From  the  Greek  a,  without,  and  gnomt,  to 
know.  One  who  professes  a  belief  only  in  what  he 
knows  or  can  discover  for  himself.  Literally  a  ''know- 
nothing." 

Agony  Column.  At  first  this  newspaper  column  was  con- 
fined to  distressful  inquiries  for  missing  relatives  and 
friends.  Latterly  it  has  become  a  tacit  means  of  com- 
munication between  persons  who,  for  various  reasons, 
cannot  exchange  letters  sent  through  the  post. 

Ahoy.  From  Aoi,  the  battle  cry  of  the  Norsemen  as  they 
ran  their  galleys  upon  the  enemy. 

Aigrette.  A  French  word,  denoting  the  tall  white  plume 
of  a  heron.  From  a  feather  head-dress  the  term  has 
now  come  to  be  applied  to  an  ornament  of  gems  worn 
by  a  lady  on  the  crown  of  her  head  when  in  full 
evening  dress. 

Air  of  a  Gentleman.  In  this  sense  the  word  "air"  is 
synonymous  with  "  manner  "  and  "  deportment." 

Air  Street.  When  laid  out  and  built  upon  in  1659  this 
was  the  most  westerly  street  in  London.  The  allusion 
to  fresh  air  is  obvious. 

Aix-la-Chapelle.  The  Aquis  Granum  of  the  Romans, 
famous  for  its  baths.  Hence  the  German  name 
Aachen,  expressive  of  many  springs.  The  place  is  also 
noted  for  its  many  churches;  the  cathedral,  which  grew 
out  of  the  original  chapel,  contains  the  shrine  of 
Charlemagne. 

Alabama.     Indian  for  "  here  we  rest." 

A  la  Guillotine.  The  name  given  in  France  after  the 
Revolution  to  the  fashion  of  wearing  the  hair  very 
short,  in  memory  of  friends  and  relatives  who  had 
fallen  victims  to  the  "  Guillotine." 


A  la  Watteau — Alderney  7 

A  la  Watteau.  The  name  given  to  a  stage  ballet  in  which 
the  pretty  rustic  costumes  are  after  the  style  of  those 
ever  present  in  the  pastoral  paintings  of  Antoine 
Watteau,  the  famous  French  artist.  Reproductions  of 
his  pictures  frequently  also  figure  on  expensive  furniture 
— screens  in  particular. 

Albania.  From  the  Latin  albus,  white,  "the  country  of 
snowy  mountain  ranges." 

Albany.  A  commodious  range  of  bachelor  chambers  in 
Piccadilly,  at  one  time  the  residence  of  Frederick,  son 
of  George  III.,  created  Duke  of  York  and  Albany. 

Albany  Street.     After  the  Duke  of  York  and  Albany,  temp. 

George  III. 
Albemarle  Street.     In  the  West  End  street  of  this  name 

resided  Christopher  Monk,  second  Duke  of  Albemarle. 

The  other,  in  Clerkenwell,  was  built  upon  when  General 

Monk,  the  first  Duke  of  Albemarle,  was  at  the  zenith 

of  his  popularity. 
Albert.     After  the  Prince  Consort,  to  whom  the  jewellers  of 

Birmingham  presented  a  short  gold  watch-chain  on  the 

occasion  of  his  visit  to  that  city  in  1849. 

Albert  Gate.     After  Prince  Albert,  the  consort  of  Queen 

Victoria.     The  Albert  Bridge,  Albert  Memorial,  and 

Royal  Albert  Hall  likewise  perpetuate  his  name. 
Albigensis.     Christian  heretics  of  the  twelfth  century,  drawn 

from     the    Albigeois,    whose    capital    was    Albi,    in 

Languedoc. 
Albion.     The   name  given  to  Britain  by  the   Romans  on 

account  of  its  (a/bus)  white  cliffs,  as  approached  from 

the  sea. 
Alcantara.     From  the  Arabic  Al-kantarah,  "the  bridge," 

referring  to  the  fine  stone  bridge  built  by  Trajan. 
Alcove.     From   the  Arabic  El-kauf,  through  the   Spanish 

alcoba,  a  tent. 
Aldermanbury.    The  bury  or  enclosed  place  in  which  stood 

the  first  Guildhall  prior  to  the  reign  of  Henry  IV. 
Alderney.     In  French  Aurigny,  from  the  Latin   Aurinia, 

Isle  of  Light. 


8        Aldersgate  Street — Allahabad 

Aldersgate  Street.  From  the  ancient  city  gate  near  which 
grew  several  fine  alder-trees. 

Aldgate.  From  the  Auld  Gate  of  Saxon  London,  the 
earliest  of  the  city  gates. 

Aldine  Editions.  Early  editions  of  the  classics  produced 
and  given  to  the  world  by  Aldo  Manuzio,  the  celebrated 
printer  of  Venice,  in  the  sixteenth  century. 

Aldwych.  An  old  name  for  a  magnificent  new  thorough- 
fare which  has  taken  the  place  of  quaint,  out-of-date 
Wych  Street,  anciently  described  as  Auld  Wych,  leading 
as  it  did  to  the  old  village,  whose  parish  church  was 
that  of  St  Giles's  in  the  Fields. 

Ale-stake.  The  pole  anciently  set  up  in  front  of  an  ale- 
house. This  was  at  first  surmounted  by  a  bush,  in 
imitation  of  a  wine  bush ;  later  it  became  exchanged 
for  a  sign. 

Ale-wife.     An  old  name  for  the  wife  of  a  tavern  keeper. 

Alexandra  Limp.  When  our  present  Queen,  as  Princess 
of  Wales,  having  sustained  an  injury  to  her  knee,  was 
walking  lame,  it  became  the  fashion  to  imitate  her 
gait. 

Alexandria.  The  city  founded  by  Alexander  the  Great, 
b.c.  332. 

Aleutian  Islands.     From  the  Russian  aleut,  "  bald  rock." 

Alfreton.  Properly  Alfred's  Town,  identified  with  Alfred 
the  Great. 

Algiers.     From  the  Arabic  Aljezair,  "  the  peninsula." 

Alhambra.  From  the  Arabic  Kal-at-al-hamra,  "the  red 
castle." 

Alibi.     Latin  for  "  elsewhere." 

A  Little  too  Previous.  An  Americanism  for  being  in  too 
great  a  hurry ;  rushing  at  conclusions ;  saying  or  doing 
a  thing  without  sufficient  warranty. 

All  Abroad.  Provincial  for  scattered  wits;  "all  over  the 
place." 

Allahabad,     Arabic  and  Persian  for  "  City  of  God." 


All  Bosh— All  Souls'  College         9 

All  Bosh.  The  introduction  of  the  term  "  Bosh  "  into  our 
vocabulary  must  be  accredited  to  James  Morier,  in 
whose  Oriental  romances,  "The  Adventures  of  Haiji 
Baba  of  Ispahan  "  and  "  Ayesha,"  it  frequently  appears. 
Bosh  is  Persian  and  Turkish,  signifying  rubbish, 
nonsense,  silly  talk. 

Alleghany.  A  corruption  of  Alligewi,  the  name  of  an 
Indian  tribe. 

Allemanni.  Teutonic  for  "  All  Men  " ;  expressing  a  con- 
federacy. 

All-fired.  An  Americanism  for  "great" — e.g.  "He  came 
in  an  all-fired  hurry." 

All-hallowe'en.     The  vigil  of  "  All-hallows'  Day." 

All-hallows'-Barking.  This  ancient  church,  dedicated 
to  All  the  Saints,  belonged  to  the  Abbey  at  Barking, 
Essex. 

All-hallows'  Day.  The  old-time  designation  of  All  Saints' 
Day,  from  Anglo-Saxon  ha/ig,  holy. 

All  Moonshine.  As  the  light  of  the  moon  is  reflected  from 
the  sun,  so  an  incredible  statement  received  at  second 
hand  is  said  to  be  "all  moonshine." 

All  my  Eye  and  Betty  Martin.  A  corruption  of  Ah  mihi^ 
beate  Martine  (Woe  to  me,  Blessed  Martin),  formerly 
used  by  beggars  in  Italy  to  invoke  their  patron  saint. 
The  story  goes  that  a  sailor  who  wandered  into  a 
church  in  that  country,  hearing  these  words,  afterwards 
told  his  companions  that  all  he  could  make  out  from 
the  service  was  :  "All  my  eye  and  Betty  Martin." 

All  Saints'  Bay.  Discovered  by  Amerigo  Vespucci  on  the 
Feast  of  All  Saints,  1503. 

All  Saints'  Day.  The  day  set  apart  by  the  Church  for  the 
invocation  of  the  whole  body  of  canonised  saints. 

All  Serena.  From  the  Spanish  serena,  used  by  sentinels  as 
a  countersign  for  "All's  well." 

All  Souls'  College.  Founded  at  Oxford  by  Henry  Chichely, 
Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  for  the  perpetual  offering 
up  of  prayers  on  behalf  of  the  souls  of  those  who  fell 
in  the  wars  of  Henry  V.  in  France. 


io  All  Souls'  Day— Amadeus 

All  Souls'  Day.  The  day  of  special  prayers  for  the  libera- 
tion of  the  suffering  souls  in  Purgatory.  The  French 
people  make  it  a  point  of  duty  to  visit  the  graves  of 
their  deceased  relatives  on  this  day. 

All  the  Go.  Originally  a  drapers'  phrase,  meaning  that 
a  certain  line  of  goods  is  "  going  "  fast  and  will  soon 
be  gone.  A  publisher,  too,  thinks  a  book  should  "  go  " 
with  the  reading  public. 

All  There.  An  Americanism  expressive  of  one  who  has 
all  his  wits  about  him. 

Almack's.  Fashionable  assembly-rooms  in  King  Street,  St 
James's,  opened  12th  February  1765  by  MacCall,  a 
Scotsman,  who  inverted  his  name  to  remove  all  sus- 
picion of  his  origin.  The  next  proprietor  called  them 
Willis's  Rooms,  after  himself.  In  1890  they  were  con- 
verted into  a  restaurant. 

Almighty  Dollar.  For  this  expression  we  are  indebted  to 
Washington  Irving,  who  in  his  sketch  of  "  The  Creole 
Village"  (1837)  spoke  of  it  as  "the  great  object  of 
universal  devotion  throughout  our  land." 

Alnwick.     The  wick,  or  village,  on  the  Alne. 

Alpaca.  Cloth  made  from  the  wool  of  the  Peruvian  sheep 
of  the  same  name,  akin  to  the  llama. 

Alps.  From  the  Latin  albus,  white,  the  mountains  eternally 
capped  with  snow. 

Alsace.  Teutonic  for  "the  other  seat,"  being  the  abode  of 
their  own  people  west  of  the  Rhine.  With  the  Celtic 
suffix  the  name  became  "  Alsatia." 

Alsatia.  Anciently  the  district  of  Whitefriars,  which,  being 
a  sanctuary  for  law-breakers,  received  the  name  of  the 
Rhine  province  notorious  as  the  common  refuge  of  the 
disaffected. 

Alter  Ego.  Expresses  the  Latin  for  "my  other  self"  or 
"  double." 

Amadeus.  The  family  name  of  the  House  of  Savoy,  from 
its  motto :  "  Love  God," 


Amain — America  1 1 

Amain.  A  nautical  phrase  meaning  suddenly,  at  once — 
e.g.  "Strike  amain,"  "  Lower  amain." 

Amateur  Casual.  The  literary  sobriquet  of  Mr  James 
Greenwood,  who  in  1866  spent  a  night  in  Lambeth 
Workhouse,  and  wrote  his  experiences  in  The  Pall 
Mall  Gazette.  Within  the  last  few  months  he  has 
undertaken  a  similar  up-to-date  commission  for  The 
Tribune. 

Amati.  A  violin  of  rare  excellence  made  by  Andrea  Amati 
of  Cremona. 

Amazon.  The  Spaniards  first  called  this  river  the  Orellana, 
in  honour  of  their  countryman  who  navigated  it,  but 
after  hearing  accounts  of  the  fighting  women  on  its 
banks  they  gave  it  the  name  of  the  fabled  African 
tribe  of  warlike  women  who  cut  or  burnt  off  the  right 
breast  in  order  the  better  to  steady  the  bow.  The 
word  Amazon  is  Greek,  from  a,  without,  and  maza, 
breast. 

Ambrosian  Chant.  Ascribed  to  St  Ambrose,  Bishop  of 
Milan  in  the  fourth  century. 

Ambuscade.     From  the  Italian  imboscata,  concealed   in  a 

wood. 
Amen.     Hebrew  for  "  Yea,"  "  Truly,"  "  So  be  it." 

Amen  Corner.  Old  Stow  tells  us  this  lane  was  suddenly 
stopped  up  in  his  time,  so  that  people  said  "  Amen  " 
on  finding  they  had  to  turn  back  again.  There  may  be 
something  in  this  j  but  the  greater  likelihood  is  that  it 
was  here  where  the  monks  finished  the  recital  of  the 
Paternoster  before  they  took  up  the  Ave  Maria  while 
on  their  way  in  solemn  procession  to  St  Paul's  at  the 
great  Church  festivals. 

America.  After  Amerigo  Vespucci,  a  Florentine  adventurer, 
who  chanced  to  be  at  Seville  when  Columbus  was  pre- 
paring for  his  second  voyage  to  the  West.  With 
Ojeda,  Vespucci  embarked  upon  an  independent  ex- 
pedition. Subsequently  he  made  further  voyages  in 
Portuguese  ships,  and  discovered  the  Bay  of  All  Saints. 
His  remaining  days  were  spent  in  the  service  of  the 


12    American  Indians — Ampthill  Square 

King  of  Spain,  preparing  charts  and  prescribed  routes 
to  the  New  World.  Although  these  official  publica- 
tions bore  his  signature,  Vespucci  never  claimed  to 
have  discovered  the  great  Western  Continent.  A 
wonderful  narrative  of  his  voyages,  however,  purporting 
to  have  been  written  by  Vespucci,  found  its  way  into 
the  hands  of  Martin  Waldseemuller  of  Freiburg,  Baden. 
This  he  translated,  and  caused  it  to  be  published  by  a 
bookseller  at  St  Die  in  Lorraine  in  1507.  In  his 
preface  to  the  work  Waldseemuller  suggested  that  the 
newly  discovered  country  should  be  called  America, 
after  the  author,  who  had  visited  it.  Hence  the  name 
really  originated  in  Germany. 

American  Indians.     See  "  Indians." 

Americanism.  A  coined  word  or  phrase  in  the  United 
States  which,  freely  repeated,  tickles  the  popular  ear 
and  soon  becomes  engrafted  upon  the  national  vo- 
cabulary. Many  Americanisms  are  now  as  common  in 
England  as  in  the  land  of  their  origin.  The  term  may 
also  be  applied  to  such  American  deviations  from 
British  custom,  as  the  substitution  of  "  Depot "  for 
Railway  Station,  "  News-stand  "  for  Bookstall,  "  On  the 
street "  for  "  In  the  street,"  etc.  etc. 

Amiens.  From  the  Latin  amh'ens,  surrounded  by  water. 
Three  branches  of  the  River  Somme  run  through  the 
city. 

Ammonites.  The  descendants  of  Ben-ammi,  the  son  of  Lot 
(Gen.  xxix.  38). 

Among  the  Gods.  At  the  time  when  the  expression  first 
came  into  use,  the  ceiling  of  Drury  Lane  Theatre  was 
embellished  with  classical  deities  disporting  themselves 
among  the  clouds  in  an  azure  sky. 

Among  the  Missing.  An  Americanism  for  an  absentee. 
When  a  person  wishes  to  be  "  out "  to  a  visitor,  he  tells 
the  servant  that  he  prefers  to  be  "among  the  missing." 

Amorica.  The  country  of  the  Armorici,  "  dwellers  on  the 
sea." 

Ampthill  Square.    From  Ampthill  Park,  Bedfordshire,  one 


Amsterdam — Angelic  Doctor        13 

of  the  seats   of  the   ground   landlord,  the   Duke  of 
Bedford. 
Amsterdam.     The  town  built  on  the  dam  of  the  Amstel. 

Amwell  Street.  After  one  of  the  wells  in  Hertfordshire, 
whose  waters  were  drawn  upon  by  Sir  Hugh  Myddleton 
for  the  New  River. 

Anabaptists.  Conformably  to  the  Greek  ana,  twice,  the 
designation  of  the  original  Baptists,  who,  having  been 
baptised  at  birth,  went  through  the  ceremony  a  second 
time  on  reaching  maturity. 

Anacreon  Moore.  The  sobriquet  of  Thomas  Moore,  who 
translated  the  Odes  of  Anacreon,  and  constructed  his 
own  verses  on  the  same  classic  model. 

Anatolia.  The  Turkish  and  Greek  description  of  Asia 
Minor,  from  anatolie,  east — i.e.  of  Constantinople. 

Ancient.  Iago  is  described  as  Othello's  "  ancient."  Even 
in  Shakespeare's  day  this  word  was  a  corruption  of 
ensign,  or  standard-bearer.  , 

Ancient  Lights.  After  having  enjoyed  the  light  of  a 
window  on  his  premises  for  twenty  years  uninterruptedly 
a  person  may,  subject  to  displaying  the  notice  "ancient 
lights,"  prevent  that  light  from  being  intercepted  by 
any  other  building. 

Ancona.  From  the  Greek  agkon,  elbow,  relative  to  its 
position  on  an  angle  of  the  coast. 

Andalusia.      Properly    Vandalusia,    the    country    of    the 

Vandals. 
Andes.     From  the  Peruvian  anta,  copper. 

Andrea  Ferrara.  A  world-famous  Italian  sword  blade 
made  by  Andrea  of  the  city  of  Ferrara. 

Angel.  An  inn  sign,  originally  the  "  Angel  and  Salutation," 
depicting  the  visit  of  the  angel  who  announced  to  the 
Virgin  that  she  was  to  be  the  mother  of  the  Redeemer. 

Angelic  Doctor.  One  of  the  sobriquets  of  St  Thomas 
Aquinas,  universally  regarded  as  "The  Angel  of  the 
Schools."  He  is  said  also  to  have  written  much  on 
the  nature  of  angels. 


1 4  Anglesea — Apothecary 

Anglesea.  Properly  Anglesey,  expressing,  from  the  point  of 
view  of  the  Celtic  inhabitants  of  Wales,  the  ey,  or 
island  of  the  Angles. 

Anglesea  Morris.  After  William  Morris,  who  caught  this 
species  of  fish  off  the  Isle  of  Anglesea. 

Angola.     Wool  brought  from  Angola  on  the  West  Coast  of 

Africa. 
Angostura  Bitters.  Prepared  from  the  celebrated  medicinal 

bark  discovered  by  Capuchin  monks  in  the  Venezuelan 

city  Angostura,  which  name  signifies  a  strait. 
Anguilla  Island.      West  Indian  for  "Little  Snake,"  from 

its  shape. 
Anisette.     A  cordial  prepared  from  aniseed. 
Annunciator.     An  Americanism  for  bell  or  gong. 
Antarctic    Ocean.      That   situate   anti,   opposite   to,   the 

Arctic  Ocean. 
Antelope  State.     Nebraska,  from  the  number  of  antelopes 

found  there. 

Anthem.  A  hymn  sung  by  the  entire  congregation,  as 
distinguished  from  Antiphone,  which  term  expresses 
a  series  of  choral  responses. 

Antigua.     Expresses  the  Spanish  for  an  ancient  city. 

Antwerp.  In  French  Anvers,  the  Antverfiia  of  the 
Romans. 

Any.  An  Americanism  for  "at  all" — e.g.  "  It  didn't 
trouble  me  any." 

Apache  State.  Arizona,  the  scene  of  many  bloodthirsty 
encounters  with  the  wild  Apaches. 

Apennines.  The  Pennine  Alps,  from  the  Celtic  ben,  which 
is  the  same  as  the  Welsh  pen,  summit  or  mountain 
head. 

Apollinaris   Water.     Brought   from   the   famous   mineral 

spring  in  the  valley  of  the  Ahor  of  the  Rhine  province. 

The  ruins  of  a  temple  of  Apollo  gave  the  name  to  the 

spot. 
Apothecary.     The  old  name  for  a  dispenser  of  medicines. 

The   Greek  word  really  implies  a  storehouse  or  de- 


Appian  Way — April  Fool  15 

pository ;  it  is  compounded  out  of  apo,  to  put  away,  and 
tkeke,  chest,  box.  Differing  from  modern  chemists  and 
druggists,  licentiates  of  the  Apothecaries'  Company  may 
visit  the  sick  and  prescribe  for  them,  as  well  as  make 
up  physicians'  prescriptions. 

Appian  Way.  The  construction  of  this  famous  road  lead- 
ing from  Rome  to  Capua  was  commenced  by  Appius 
Claudius. 

Apostle  of  Temperance.  Father  Mathew,  the  inveterate 
enemy  of  tipplers  in  the  Emerald  Isle  of  his  time. 

Apostles'  Creed.  The  whole  summary  of  Christian  Faith, 
according  to  the  Apostles. 

Apostolic  Fathers.  Those  early  doctors  of  the  Church 
who,  living  in  the  first  century  after  Christ,  received 
their  teaching  from  His  disciples,  if  they  did  not 
actually  enjoy  personal  communion  with  the  Apostles. 

Apricot.     From   the   Latin  prcecoqus,  early  ripe. 

April.  The  month  in  which  the  buds  begin  to  shoot, 
from  aperio,  to  open. 

April  Fish.  The  French  equivalent  of  "  April  Fool,"  since, 
like  a  fish,  the  unsuspecting  victim  of  a  practical  joke  is 
easily  caught. 

April  Fool.  The  custom  of  April  Fooling  originated  in 
France,  which  country  took  the  lead  in  shifting  the 
New  Year  from  what  is  now  Lady  Day  to  the  ist  of 
January.  This  occurred  in  1564.  From  the  earliest 
periods  of  history  people  bestowed  gifts  upon  their 
neighbours  at  the  New  Year,  but  as  the  25th  of  March 
so  often  fell  in  Holy  Week,  even  on  Good  Friday 
itself,  the  Church  uniformly  postponed  the  cele- 
bration of  the  New  Year  until  the  octave — viz.  the  ist 
of  April.  When,  therefore,  New  Year's  Day  had  been 
transferred  to  the  ist  of  January,  people  paid  mock 
visits  to  their  friends  on  the  ist  of  April  with  the 
object  of  fooling  them  into  the  belief  that  matters 
remained  as  they  were.  The  like  custom  was  intro- 
duced into  England  on  the  alteration  of  our  calendar 
in  1762.     April  Fools'  Day  is  supposed  to  be  over  at 


1 6   Apsley  House — Argentine  Republic 

twelve   o'clock,  since  the  New  Year's  visitation  and 
bestowal  of  gifts  always  took  place  before  noon. 

Apsley  House.  The  residence  of  the  Duke  of  Wellington, 
built  by  Henry  Apsley,  Lord  Chancellor,  afterwards 
Lord  Bathurst. 

Aquarians.  A  Christian  sect  of  the  fourth  century  who 
substituted  water  for  wine  in  the  Communion. 

Aqua  Tofana.  A  colourless  poison  invented  by  a  Sicilian 
woman  named  Tofana  towards  the  close  of  the 
seventeenth  century.  So  extensive  was  her  secret 
traffic  with  this  liquid  among  young  married  women 
who  were  anxious  to  rid  themselves  of  their  husbands 
that  when,  at  a  great  age,  Tofana  was  dragged  from 
the  convent  where  she  had  taken  refuge,  and  executed, 
she  admitted  to  having  caused  the  deaths  of  600 
persons. 

Arabia.     The  country  of  the  Arabs,  or  "  men  of  the  desert." 

Arbor  Day.     A  day  set  apart  in  America  for  planting  trees. 

Arbroath.  Originally  Aberbrothockwick,  the  village  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Brothock. 

Arcadian.  An  ideal  farmer  or  a  rustic  scene;  after  the 
Arcadians,  who  were  essentially  a  pastoral  race. 

Arcadian  Poetry.  Pastoral  poetry,  in  allusion  to  the 
Arcadians. 

Archangel.  A  town  in  Russia  which  derived  its  name 
from  a  great  monastery  of  St  Michael  the  Archangel. 

Archer-fish.  A  fish  endowed  with  the  power  of  shooting 
water  at  insects,  which  thus  become  an  easy  prey. 

Archway  Road.  Leads  to  the  modern  successor  of  the 
famous  Highgate  Archway  opened  in  18 13. 

Arctic  Ocean.  From  the  Greek  arktos,  bear,  having 
reference  to  the  great  northern  constellation. 

Ardennes.     The  great  forest  on  the  heights. 

Argand  Lamp.     After  its  inventor,  Aime  Argand. 

Argentine  Republic.  The  modern  name  of  Argentina, 
through  which  runs  the  La  Plata,  or  River  of  Silver. 


Argosy — Artemus  Ward  17 

While  preserving  their  original  designation  of  the  river, 
the  Spaniards  Latinised  that  of  the  country. 

Argosy.  A  vessel  laden  with  rich  merchandise,  from  the 
Argo,  in  which  Jason  and  his  fellow-adventurers,  the 
Argonauts,  sailed  to  Colchis  in  quest  of  the  Golden 
Fleece,  b.c.  1263. 

Argyll.  From  Garra  Ghaidhael,  the  country  of  the  West 
Gaels. 

Argyll  Street.  From  the  old  town  mansion  of  the  Dukes 
of  Argyll.  The  celebrated  Argyll  Rooms,  now  the 
Trocadero  Restaurant,  were  a  far  cry  from  the  other 
extreme  of  Regent  Street. 

Argus-eyed.  After  the  fabled  Argus,  who  had  a  hundred 
eyes. 

Arians.  The  followers  of  the  first  Christian  heretic,  Arius, 
a  presbyter  of  the  Church  of  Alexandria  in  the  fourth 
century. 

Arizona.     Indian  for  "  sand-hills." 

Arkansas.  The  same  as  Kansas,  "  smoky  water,"  with  the 
French  suffix  arc,  a  bow. 

Arkansas  Toothpick.  The  Far-West  designation  of  a 
"  Bowie  Knife,"  the  blade  of  which,  as  used  by  the 
people  of  this  state,  shuts  up  into  the  handle. 

Arlington  Street.  From  the  town  mansion  of  Henry 
Bennett,  Earl  of  Arlington. 

Arminians.  The  anti-Calvinists  of  Holland,  led  by  James 
Harmensen  under  the  Latinised  name  of  Jacobus 
Arminius. 

Arras.  Mediaeval  tapestry,  for  the  production  of  which 
the  town  of  Arras,  in  the  French  Netherlands,  was 
famous. 

Arrowroot.  So  called  because  the  Indians  of  tropical 
America  regarded  the  root  of  the  plant  as  efficacious 
against  arrow  wounds. 

Artemus  Ward.  The  pseudonym  of  Charles  Farrar 
Browne,  the  American  humorous  lecturer.     This  was, 

B 


1 8       Artesian  Well — As  Poor  as  a 

however,  the  actual  name  of  an  eccentric   showman 
whom  he  had  encountered  on  his  travels. 

Artesian  Well.  From  Artois,  where  such  wells  were  first 
bored. 

Arthur's  Seat.  Said  to  have  derived  its  name  from  King 
Arthur,  but  how  his  association  with  the  city  of 
Edinburgh  arose  no  man  can  tell. 

Artichoke.     From  the  Arabic  ardischauki,  earth  thorn. 

Artillery  Lane.  Stands  on  part  of  the  site  of  the  practis- 
ing ground  of  the  London  Artillery  Company,  temp. 
Henry  VIII.,  and  later  of  the  Tower  Gunners,  when 
all  the  land  towards  the  north  hereabouts  was  open 
fields. 

Arundel.     The  dale  of  the  River  Arun. 

Arundel  Street.  That  in  the  Strand  from  the  town 
mansion  and  extensive  grounds  of  the  Howards,  Dukes 
of  Norfolk  and  Earls  of  Arundel  and  Surrey.  That  in 
the  Haymarket  after  the  ground  landlord,  Lord 
Arundel  of  Wardour. 

Ascension  Island.  Discovered  by  the  Portuguese  on  the 
Feast  of  the  Ascension,  1501. 

As  Cross  as  Two  Sticks.  Two  sticks  held  together  in  the 
centre  like  the  letter  X  form  a  cross. 

Ashby-de-la-Zouch.  The  home  among  the  ash-trees  of  the 
De  La  Zouches.  By  expresses  the  Anglo-Saxon  for  a 
dwelling. 

Asia.  From  the  Sanskrit  Ushas,  "  land  of  the  dawn."  By 
the  Western  nations  Asiatics  were  anciently  styled 
11  the  people  of  the  sun." 

Asia  Minor.  Lesser  Asia,  called  by  the  Turks  and  Greeks 
"  Anatolia." 

Aspasia.     A  flower  named  after  Aspasia   of  Miletus,   the 

mistress  of  Pericles. 
As  Poor  as  a  Church  Mouse.     A  church  is  one  of  the  very 

few  buildings  that  contain  neither  kitchen  nor  larder. 

Church  mice,  therefore,  have  a  hungry  time  of  it. 


As  Rich  as  a  Jew — Auburn         19 

As  Rich  as  a  Jew.  The  Jews  in  England  were  the  first 
usurers,  bankers,  and  bill-brokers.  They  only  had  the 
command  of  ready  money,  the  wealth  of  the  nobility 
consisting  in  the  possession  of  broad  lands. 

Assumptionists.  A  modern  religious  Order,  founded  fifty 
years  ago,  whose  full  title  is  the  Augustinians  of  the 
Assumption. 

Astoria.  From  the  fur-trading  station  established  in  1811 
by  John  Jacob  Astor  of  New  York. 

Astrakhan.  Fur  brought  from  Astrakhan,  which  name 
signifies  the  country  or  district  ruled  by  a  khan  of  the 
Tartar  or  Mogul  Empire. 

Asturia.  From  the  Basque  asta,  rock,  and  ura,  water, 
denoting  a  region  of  mountains  and  estuaries. 

Atlantic  Ocean.  Called  by  the  Greeks  Atlantikos  pelagos, 
from  the  Isle  of  Atlantis,  imagined  by  Homer  and 
Plato  to  be  beyond  the  Strait  of  Gibraltar. 

Athanasian  Creed.  Opinions  affecting  the  doctrine  of  the 
Trinity,  ascribed  to  St  Athanasius  of  Alexandria, 
adopted  and  formally  compiled  by  St  Hilary,  Bishop 
of  Aries  in  the  fifth  century. 

Athens.  From  the  Temple  of  Athene,  or  Minerva,  the 
tutelary  goddess  of  the  city. 

Athens  of  America.  The  city  of  Boston,  considered  the 
chief  seat  of  learning  in  the  New  World. 

Athens  of  the  South.  Nashville,  Tennessee,  on  account  of 
the  number  of  its  scholastic  institutions. 

Athelney.  The  "Royal  Island"  or  "Isle  of  the  Nobles," 
where  Alfred  the  Great  founded  a  Benedictine 
monastery. 

Atlas.  Since  the  publication  of  "  Mercator's  Projections," 
with  the  figure  of  Atlas  bearing  the  globe  on  his 
shoulders  as  a  frontispiece,  in  1560,  all  books  of  maps 
have  received  this  name. 

At  Loggerheads.     See  "Loggerhead." 

Auburn.  From  the  Anglo-Saxon  Auld  Bourne,  old  bourn, 
or  stream. 


20  Auckland — Autocar 

Auckland.  The  capital  of  New  Zealand,  named  in  honour 
of  Lord  Auckland,  a  famous  politician  of  his  time, 
who  became  Governor-General  of  India,  and  after  his 
retirement  was  elected  President  of  the  Asiatic  Society. 
His  ancestor,  the  first  Lord  Auckland,  took  his  title 
from  Auckland  in  Durham,  which  name  was  originally 
Oakland. 

Audley  Street  (North  and  South).  Perpetuate  the  memory 
of  Hugh  Audley,  a  barrister  of  the  Middle  Temple, 
whose  landed  estates  hereabouts  were  computed  at  his 
death  in  1662  to  be  worth  a  million  of  money. 

Augsburg  Confession.  The  Lutheran  Confession  of  faith 
drawn  up  by  Melancthon,  and  presented  by  Martin 
Luther  to  Charles  V.  during  the  sitting  of  the  German 
Diet  at  Augsburg  in  1530. 

August.  After  Augustus  Caesar,  who  regarded  this  as  his 
lucky  month.  Its  original  name  was  Sextilis,  the 
sixth  month  of  the  Roman  year. 

Augustan  Age.  The  best  literary  age  of  any  country, 
because  Rome  in  the  time  of  Augustus  Caesar  pro- 
duced the  finest  examples  of  Latin  literature. 

Augustin  Friars.  The  religious  Order  said  to  have  been 
founded  by  St  Augustine,  the  first  Archbishop  of 
Canterbury.     See  "  Austin  Friars." 

Auld  Reekie.  The  name  given  to  the  old  part  of  Edin- 
burgh, from  the  cloud  of  reek  or  smoke  which  usually 
caps  it. 

Austin  Friars.  Part  of  the  site  of  the  priory  of  the 
Augustin  Friars,  whose  church  still  remains. 

Australasia.     Southern  Asia. 

Australia.     From  the  Latin  Australis,  southern. 

Austria.  From  Oesterreich,  or  Eastern  Empire,  as  dis- 
tinguished from  the  Western  Empire  founded  by 
Charlemagne. 

Autocar.  The  name  first  given  to  a  motor  car ;  incorrectly, 
however,   since  so  far  from  being  automatic  such  a 


Autun — Backgammon  2 1 

one,  like  all  mechanically  propelled  vehicles,  requires 

a  guiding  intelligence. 
Autun.     The  Augustodunum,  or  Town  of  Augustus,  of  the 

Romans. 
Auvergne.     From  the  Auverni,  who  overran  it  in  the  time 

of  the  Caesars. 
Avoca.     Gaelic  for  "the  meeting  of  the  waters." 

Ave  Maria  Lane.  Where  the  monks  of  old  chanted 
the  "Ave  Maria"  on  their  way  to  St  Paul's.  See 
"Amen  Corner." 

Avon.  From  Arfon,  the  Celtic  for  river  or  stream,  which 
enters  into  many  place-names. 

Axminster.     The  monastery  town  on  the  Axe. 

Ayah.     Hindustani  for  waiting-woman  or  nurse. 

Aye-Vye.  An  animal  found  in  Madagascar,  so  called  from 
its  cry. 

Aylesbury  Street.  From  the  town  house  and  garden  of 
the  Earls  of  Aylesbury. 

Azores.  The  Portuguese  named  this  group  of  islands 
Acores,  the  plural  of  acor>  hawk,  on  account  of  the 
great  number  of  hawks  there. 

Azov.  A  Russianised  form  of  Asak,  the  name  given  to  it 
by  the  Tartars. 

B 

Bacchanalia.     Roman  festivals  in  honour  of  Bacchus,  the 

god  of  wine. 
Bacchus  Verses.      Verses  witten  in  praise  or  dispraise  of 

Bacchus,  and  affixed  to  the  doors  of  the  College  at 

Eton  on  "  Collop  Monday." 

Bachelor  Girl.  One  who  lives  in  her  own  rooms,  belongs  to 
a  woman's  club,  and  considers  herself  superior  to  what 
is  called  home  influence — a  distinctly  modern  creation. 

Backgammon.  From  the  Saxon  Bac  and  gamen,  "  back- 
game,"  because  the  pieces  have  at  times  to  go  back 
and  be  moved  up  afresh. 


22  Back  a  Man — Balaklava 

Back  a  Man.  To  have  full  confidence  in  him.  From 
backing  or  endorsing  a  bill  on  another's  behalf. 

Badajoz.    Called  by  the  Moors  Beledaix,  "  Land  of  Health." 

Bad  Egg.  A  man  who  is  commercially  or  morally  unsound, 
and  therefore  fit  only  to  be  shunned. 

Badger  State.  Wisconsin,  from  the  name  given  to  the 
early  miners,  who  made  for  themselves  winter  habita- 
tions in  the  earth,  like  a  badger. 

Badminton.  A  drink  of  spiced  claret,  and  also  a  game  of 
tennis  played  with  shuttlecocks  instead  of  balls,  intro- 
duced by  the  Duke  of  Beaufort  at  Badminton,  his 
country  seat. 

Baffin's  Bay.  After  William  Baffin,  the  pilot  of  an  expedi- 
tion sent  out  to  explore  this  region  in  1616. 

Bagatelle.     From  the  Italian  bagetella^  a  conjurer's  trick. 

Baggage.  A  term  often  applied  to  a  woman,  because  the 
wives  of  soldiers  taken  on  foreign  service  go  with  the 
stores  and  baggage  generally.  In  the  United  States 
this  word  is  an  equivalent  for  the  English  "  Luggage." 

Bagman.  The  old  name  for  a  commercial  traveller,  who 
carried  his  samples  in  a  bag. 

Bag  o'  Nails.  A  popular  corruption  of  the  ancient  inn  sign, 
"The  Bachannals,"  referring  to  Pan  and  the  Satyrs. 

Bag  0'  Tricks.  In  allusion  to  the  large  bag  in  which  an 
itinerant  conjurer  carried  his  tricks. 

Bakers'  Dozen.  In  olden  times,  when  bread  was  sold  in 
open  market  instead  of  shops,  women  took  up  the 
trade  of  selling  bread  from  door  to  door.  They  re- 
ceived from  the  bakers  thirteen  loaves  for  the  price  of 
twelve,  the  odd  one  constituting  their  profit. 

Baker  Street.  After  Sir  Edward  Baker,  a  great  friend  of 
the  Portmans  of  Dorsetshire,  the  ground  landlords. 

Bakshish.     A  Persian  word  for  "  gratuity." 

Balaklava.  When  settled  by  the  Genoese,  they  gave  it  the 
name  of  Bella-chiava^  or  "Fair  Haven." 


Balearic  Islands — Bandy  Words    23 

Balearic  Islands.  From  the  Greek  ballein^  to  throw, 
expresses  the  Island  of  Slingers. 

Ball.  A  dancing  party  received  this  name  primarily  from 
the  curious  ancient  Ball  Play  in  Church  by  the  Dean 
and  choir  boys  of  Naples  during  the  "  Feast  of  Fools  " 
at  Easter.  While  singing  an  antiphon  the  boys  caught 
the  ball  thrown  by  the  Dean  as  they  danced  around 
him.  At  private  dancing  parties  the  dancers  always 
threw  a  ball  at  one  another  as,  to  the  sound  of  their 
own  voices/ they  whirled  around  in  sets,  the  pastime 
consisting  in  loosening  hands  in  time  to  catch  it. 
Afterwards  the  ball  was  discarded,  but  the  dance  time 
received  the  name  of  a  Ballad,  from  the  Latin  ballare, 
to  dance. 

Ballad.     See  "Ball." 

Ballet.  Expresses  the  French  diminutive  of  bal,  a  dance. 
See  "Ball." 

Ball's  Pond.  From  an  inn,  the  "Salutation,"  kept  by 
John  Ball,  whose  dog  and  duck  sports  in  a  large  pond 
attracted  a  great  concourse  of  visitors  in  former  days. 

Balsover  Street.  From  Balsover,  Derbyshire,  the  seat  of 
the  Fitzroys,  Dukes  of  Grafton,  the  ground  landlords. 

Baltic  Sea.  A  sea  of  belts  or  straits.  Bait  is  Norse  for 
strait. 

Baltimore.     After    Lord   Baltimore,   the   founder  of   the 

neighbouring  state  of  Maryland. 

Baltimore  Bird.  Though  found  almost  everywhere  in  the 
United  States,  it  is  said  to  have  received  its  name 
from  the  correspondence  of  its  colours  with  those 
distinguished  in  the  arms  of  Lord  Baltimore,  the 
Governor  of  Maryland. 

Bancroft  Road.  After  Francis  Bancroft,  the  founder  of 
the  Drapers'  Almshouses,  in  this  road. 

Bandana.  The  Hindu  term  for  silk  goods  generally,  but 
now  applied  to  cotton  pocket-handkerchiefs  with 
white  or  yellow  spots  on  a  blue  ground. 

Bandy  Words  with  You.     From  the  old  game  of  Bandy,  in 


24  Bangor — Barber-surgeons 

which   the  ball  was   struck  or  bandied  to   opposite 
sides. 

Bangor.  From  Ban-choir,  "The  White  Choir "  of  the 
Abbey,  founded  by  St  Cungall  in  the  sixth  century. 

Banjo.  Properly  Bandore,  from  the  Greek  Pandoura,  a 
stringed  instrument  named  after  Pan.  The  word  was 
introduced  into  North  America  from  Europe. 

Banker  Poet.  Samuel  Rogers,  author  of  "  The  Pleasures 
of  Memory,"  who  was  a  banker  all  his  life. 

Banshee.     From  the  Gaelic  bean  si'd/ie,  woman  fairy. 

Bantam.  A  species  of  fowl  said  to  have  been  introduced 
to  Europe  from  Bantam  in  Java. 

Banting.  After  William  Banting,  a  London  cabinetmaker, 
who  in  1863  reduced  his  superfluous  fat  by  a  dietic 
system  peculiarly  his  own. 

Bar.  In  old  days,  when  a  counter  did  not  obtain,  and 
drinking  vessels  had  to  be  set  down  on  the  benches  or 
barrel  ends,  a  bar  separated  the  frequenters  of  a  tavern 
from  the  drawers  or  tapsters.  Similarly,  at  the  Courts 
of  Law  the  Bar  was  a  rail  behind  which  a  barrister  or 
counsel  had  to  plead  his  client's  cause. 

Barbadoes.  From  the  streamers  of  moss,  resembling  a 
beard,  suspended  from  the  tree  branches. 

Barbarians.  The  name  universally  applied  by  the  Romans 
to  wandering  or  warlike  tribes  who  were  unkempt  and 
unshaven. 

Barbarossa.  The  sobriquet  of  Frederick  the  First  of 
Germany,  on  account  of  his  red  beard. 

Barbary.  The  land  of  the  Berbers,  the  Arabic  description 
of  the  people  of  this  region  prior  to  the  Saracen 
Conquest. 

Barber.     From  the  Latin  barba,  a  beard. 

Barber-surgeons.  Hairdressers  who,  down  to  the  sixteenth 
century,  also  practised  "  cupping  "  or  blood-letting,  a 
relic  of  which  is  the  modern  Barber's  Pole.  The  red  and 
white  stripes  around  the  pole  denoted  the  bandages, 


Barbican — Bartholomew  Close      25 

while  in  place  of  the  gilt  knob  at  the  end  there  origin- 
ally hung  the  basin  affixed  under  the  chin  of  the 
patient  operated  upon. 

Barbican.  That  portion  of  the  Roman  wall  round  the  city 
of  London  where  there  must  have  been  a  watch-tower 
looking  towards  the  north.  Barbacana  is  a  Persian 
word  for  a  watch-tower  in  connection  with  a  fortified 
place. 

Barcelona.  Anciently  Barcino,  after  Hamilcar  Barca,  the 
father  of  Hannibal,  who  refounded  the  city. 

Baring  Island.  Named  by  Captain  Penny  after  Sir  Francis 
Baring,  first  Lord  of  the  Admiralty. 

Barley  Mow.  An  old  sign  for  a  tavern  in  connection  with 
the  Mow  or  house  where  the  barley  was  stored  for 
brewing.     Mowe  is  Saxon  for  "  heap." 

Barmecide's  Feast.  An  illusory  banquet.  From  the  story 
of  the  Barber's  Sixth  Brother,  in  "  The  Arabian  Nights." 
Barmecide  invited  a  starving  wretch  to  a  feast,  but 
gave  him  nothing  to  eat. 

Barnsbury.  Anciently  Berners'  Bury,  the  manor  of  which 
was  held  by  Lady  Berners,  abbess  of  St  Albans. 

Barnstormer.  A  strolling  actor.  In  the  old  days,  away 
from  the  regular  circuits,  there  were  no  provincial 
theatres  or  halls  licensed  for  stage  plays  whatever. 
The  consequence  was  a  company  of  strolling  players 
obtained  permission  to  perform  in  a  barn.  Edmund 
Kean  admitted,  when  in  the  zenith  of  his  fame,  that  he 
had  gained  his  experience  "  by  barnstorming." 

Barrister.     See  "Bar." 

Barrow  Eoad.  This,  with  Barrow  Hill  Place,  marks  the  site 
of  a  barrow  or  sepulchral  mound  of  the  Britons  and 
Romans  slain  in  battle. 

Barry  Cornwall.  The  anagrammatic  pseudonym  of  Bryan 
Waller  Procter,  the  poet. 

Bar  Tender.     An  Americanism  for  barman  or  barkeeper. 

Bartholomew  Close.  The  site  of  the  ancient  cloisters  of 
St  Bartholomew's  Priory,  connected  with  the  neigh- 
bouring church,  which  is  the  oldest  in  London. 


26    Bartholomew — Battle  of  Nations 

Bartholomew  Fair.  The  famous  fair  which  for  centuries 
survived  the  mediaeval  mart  that  had  given  rise  to  it  in 
the  neighbouring  street,  still  known  as  Cloth  Fair.  It 
was  held  on  the  Feast  of  St  Bartholomew. 

Barton  Street.  A  street  in  Westminster  built  by  Barton 
Booth,  the  eminent  actor  of  Drury  Lane  Theatre. 

Bashaw.     Properly  "  Pashaw."     See  "  Pasha." 

Basinghall  Street.  From  the  mansion  and  grounds  of  the 
Basings,  whose  ancestor,  Solomon  Basing,  was  Lord 
Mayor  of  London  in  1216. 

Bassano.  The  better  known,  indeed  to  most  people  the 
only  proper,  name  of  the  famous  Italian  artist,  Jacopa 
da  Ponte,  who  signed  all  his  pictures  "II  Bassano," 
having  been  born  at  Bassano  in  the  state  of  Venice. 

Bass's  Straits.  Discovered  by  Matthew  Flinders.  These 
straits  were  named  by  him  after  a  young  ship's 
surgeon,  who,  with  a  crew  of  only  six  men,  in  a  small 
vessel,  accompanied  him  on  the  expedition. 

Bath  Chair.  First  introduced  at  Bath,  the  great  health 
resort  of  a  bygone  day. 

Bath  Street.  From  a  Bagnio,  or  Turkish  Bath,  established 
here  in  the  seventeenth  century. 

Battersea.  Anciently  Patricesy,  or  St  Peter' s-ey,  the 
manor  belonging  to  the  abbey  of  St  Peter's,  West- 
minster. The  suffix  ey  implied  not  only  an  island,  but 
also  a  creek. 

Battle-born  State.  Nevada,  because  admitted  into  the 
American  Union  during  the  Civil  War. 

Battle  Bridge  Road.  In  this  neighbourhood  the  Icem\ 
under  Boadicea,  sustained  their  total  defeat  at  the 
hands  of  the  Romans,  a.d.  61. 

Battle  of  all  the  Nations.  The  battle  of  Leipsic,  16th  to 
1 8th  October  18 13,  so  called  because  it  effected  the 
deliverance  of  Europe  from  the  domination  of  Napoleon 
Buonaparte. 


Battle  of  the  Giants— B.  D.  V.     27 

Battle  of  the  Giants.  That  of  Marignano,  in  which  1200 
Swiss  Guards,  allies  of  the  Milanese,  were  defeated, 
13th  September  15 15. 

Battle  of  the  Herrings.  From  the  sortie  of  the  Orleaners 
to  cut  off  a  convoy  of  salted  herrings  on  its  way  to  the 
English,  besieging  their  city,  12th  February  1429. 

Battle  of  the  Standard.  From  the  high  crucifix  borne  as 
a  standard  on  a  waggon  by  the  English  at  Northallerton, 
29th  August  1 138. 

Battle  of  the  Spurs.  That  of  Guinnegate,  16th  August 
15 13,  when  the  French  were  utterly  routed  in  conse- 
quence of  a  panic;  they  used  their  spurs  instead  of 
their  weapons  of  defence. 

Battle  of  the  Spurs  of  Gold.  From  the  enormous  number 
of  gold  spurs  picked  up  on  the  field  after  the  defeat  of 
the  French  knights  at  Courtray,  nth  July  1302. 

Bavaria.  The  country  of  the  Boii,  anciently  styled 
Boiaria. 

Baynard's  Castle.     See  "  Bayswater." 

Bayonet.  Not  from  the  town  of  Bayonne,  but  because  a 
Basque  regiment  in  the  district  of  Bayonnetta  in  1647, 
surprised  by  the  Spaniards,  stuck  their  knives  into 
the  muzzles  of  their  muskets,  and,  charging,  drove  off 
the  enemy  with  great  slaughter. 

Bay  State.  Massachusetts,  from  the  original  denomination 
of  this  colony  in  the  New  England  Commonwealth — 
viz.  Massachusetts  Bay. 

Bayon  State.  Mississippi,  from  the  French  bayon,  water- 
course, touching  its  great  river. 

Bayswater.  Originally  described  as  "  Baynard's  Watering," 
being  a  manor  built  by  Ralph  Baynard,  one  of  the 
favourites  of  William  the  Conqueror,  the  owner  of 
Baynard's  Castle,  in  what  is  now  Thames  Street, 
destroyed  in  the  Great  Fire  of  London. 

B.  D.  V.  A  tobacco  advertisement  which  stands  for  "  Best 
Dark  Virginia." 


28  Beak — Beauchamp  Tower 

Beak.  The  slang  term  for  a  magistrate,  on  account  of  the 
beag  or  gold  collar  that  he  wears. 

Beak  Street.     This  name  has  a  sportive  reference  to  the 

magistrate  at  the  neighbouring  police  court  in  Great 

Marlborough  Street. 
Beanfeast.      From   the   Bean-goose    (so   called  from   the 

similarity  of  the  nail  of  its  bill  to  a  bean)  which  was 

formerly  the  invariable  dinner  dish. 
Bear.     Wherever  this   enters   into  the  name  of  a  tavern 

sign  (with  the  single  exception  of  that  of  "The  Bear 

and   Ragged    Staff")   it   denotes   a  house  that    had 

originally  a  bear  garden  attached  to  it. 

Bear  and  Ragged  Staff.  A  common  inn  sign  in  Warwick- 
shire, from  the  heraldic  device  of  Warwick  the  King 
Maker. 

Bear  Garden.  This  name  at  the  corner  of  Sumner  Street, 
Southwark,  recalls  the  old  Paris  Garden,  a  famous  bear- 
baiting  establishment  founded  by  Robert  de  Paris  as 
far  back  in  English  history  as  the  reign  of  Richard  I. 
A  "  Bear  Garden  "  is  in  our  time  synonymous  with  a 
place  of  resort  for  roughs  or  rowdies. 

Bear  State.  Arkansas,  from  the  Western  description  of 
the  character  of  its  people.  "  Does  Arkansas  abound 
with  bears  that  it  should  be  called  the  Bear  State  ?  "  a 
Western  man  was  once  asked.  "Yes,  it  does,"  was 
the  reply;  "for  I  never  knew  a  man  from  that  state 
but  he  was  a  bar,  and,  in  fact,  the  people  are  all  barish 
to  a  degree." 

Bearward.  The  custodian  of  the  bear  at  public  and 
private  bear-baiting  gardens.  Most  English  towns 
anciently  retained  a  bearward.  See  "  Congleton 
Bears." 

Beats  a  Philadelphia  Lawyer.  An  American  expression 
implying  that  the  lawyers  of  Philadelphia  are  noted 
for  shrewdness  and  learning. 

Beauchamp  Tower.  After  Thomas  de  Beauchamp,  Earl  of 
Warwick,  whom  Richard  II.  caused  to  be  imprisoned 
here  for  inciting  the  barons  to  remove  the  King's 
favourite,  Sir  Simon  de  Burley. 


Beauclerc — Beguines  29 

Beauclerc.  The  surname  of  Henry  I.,  on  account  of  his 
accomplishments  in  an  age  when  learning  was  rare. 

Beckenham.  The  home  in  the  vicinity  of  becks  or  brooks. 
The  Saxon  terminal  en  expresses  the  plural. 

Bedad.  An  Irishman's  exclamation,  derived  from  the 
English  "  Begad  "  or  "  By  Gad." 

Bedford.  From  the  Anglo-Saxon  Bedican-ford,  the  pro- 
tected ford  over  the  Ouse. 

Bedfordbury.  The  bury  or  enclosed  land  of  the  Duke 
of  Bedford.  Bedford  Street  and  Bedford  Square  like- 
wise point  to  the  great  ground  landlord. 

Bedlam.  Short  for  Bethlehem  Hospital,  a  "  Lazar  House  " 
in  South  London  which  in  1815  was  converted  into 
an  asylum  for  lunatics.     See  "  Bethlehem." 

Bedouins.  From  the  Arabic  badawiy,  "dwellers  in  the 
desert." 

Beech  Street.  Said  to  have  been  the  property  of  Nicholas 
de  la  Beech,  Lieutenant  of  the  Tower,  temp.  Edward  III. 

Beefeaters.  Although  it  has  been  proved  that  the  word 
Buffetier  cannot  be  met  with  in  any  old  book,  the 
Yeomen  of  the  Guard  instituted  by  Henry  VII. 
certainly  waited  at  the  royal  table,  and  since  this 
monarch  was  largely  imbued  with  French  manners, 
his  personal  attendants  must  after  all  have  received 
their  nickname  from  the  Buffet^  or  sideboard. 

Beer  Bible.  From  the  words  "the  beer"  in  place  of 
"  strong  drink  "  (Isaiah  xxiv.  9). 

Before  the  Mast.  The  for'ard  part  of  a  ship,  where,  in 
the  forecastle,  the  sailors  have  their  quarters.  Hence 
a  common  seaman  is  said  to  "Serve  before  the  Mast." 

Begad.     See  "By  Gad." 

Begorra.  An  Irish  form  of  the  English  corrupted  oath 
Begad  or  "  By  Gad." 

Beguines.  An  order  of  nuns  in  France,  from  the  French 
beguin,  a  linen  cap.  These  nuns  are  distinguished  by 
their  peculiar  head  covering. 


30  Begum — Benedict 

Begum.  A  lady  of  high  rank  in  the  East,  a  princess  in 
India,  or  the  wife  of  a  Turkish  beg  (generally  corrupted 
into  bey)  or  Governor. 

Beldame.  From  the  French  Belle-dame,  "  fine  lady."  The 
meaning  has  now  been  corrupted  from  a  lady  entitled 
to  the  utmost  respect  on  account  of  age  or  position  to 
an  ugly  old  woman. 

Belgium.  From  the  Belgce,  the  name  given  by  Caesar  to  the 
warlike  people  who  overran  this  portion  of  Gaul. 

Belgravia.  The  fashionable  district  of  which  Belgrave 
Square  is  the  centre,  after  one  of  the  titles  of  the  Duke 
of  Westminster,  the  ground  landlord. 

Bell.  A  tavern  sign,  originally  denoting  a  haunt  for  the 
lovers  of  sport,  where  a  silver  bell  constituted  the 
prize. 

Bell,  Book,  and  Candle.  The  instruments  used  by  the 
Church  in  carrying  out  a  sentence  of  excommunication. 
The  bell  apprised  all  good  Christians  of  what  was 
about  to  take  place,  the  dread  sentence  was  read  out  of 
the  book,  while  the  blowing  out  of  the  candle  symbolised 
the  spiritual  darkness  in  which  the  excommunicated 
person  would  in  future  abide. 

Belleisle.     French  for  "  beautiful  isle." 

Beloochistan.  Pursuant  to  the  Persian  sfan,  the  country  of 
the  Belooches. 

Below  Par.  Not  up  to  the  mark  in  point  of  health.  The 
allusion  is  to  Government  stock  not  worth  its  nominal 
;£ioo  value. 

Belvedere.  A  public-house  sign,  derived  from  the  Italian 
word  for  a  pavilion  built  on  a  house-top  commanding 
a  fine  prospect. 

Ben.     Theatrical  slang  for  "benefit." 

Bench.  The  primitive  seat  of  judges  and  magistrates 
before  the  modern  throne-like  chair  was  introduced. 
Barristers  of  the  Inns  of  Court  are  styled  "Benchers" 
from  the  wooden  seats  formerly  provided  for  them. 

Benedict.     A  confirmed  bachelor,  after  St  Benedict,  who 


Benedictine — Bernardine   Hospice    31 

unceasingly  preached  the  virtues  of  celibacy.  Also 
a  newly-married  man  who,  like  Benedick  in  Much 
ado  about  Nothing,  after  having  long  forsworn 
marriage,  at  length  succumbed  to  the  grand  passion. 

Benedictine.  A  liqueur  made  at  the  Benedictine  monastery 
at  Fecamp. 

Benedictines.  The  monastic  Order  founded  by  St  Benedict 
in  the  sixth  century. 

Bengal  Tigers.  The  Leicester  Regiment,  which  as  the  old 
17  th  Foot  rendered  good  service  in  India  at  the  com- 
mencement of  the  last  century,  and  received  a  royal 
tiger  as  a  badge. 

Bennett  Street.  From  the  town  mansion  of  Henry  Bennett, 
Earl  of  Arlington. 

Bentinck  Street.  After  William  Bentinck,  second  Duke  of 
Portland,  the  ground  landlord. 

Bergen.  From  the  Danish  bierg,  mountain,  the  port 
nestling  at  the  foot  of  high  hills. 

Berkeley  Square.  The  whole  district  hereabouts  comprised 
the  land  of  Lord  Berkeley  of  Stratton,  one  of  the 
officers  of  Charles  I. 

Berkeley  Street  (Upper  and  Lower).  After  Edward 
Berkeley  Portman,  the  ground  landlord.  There  is  a 
Berkeley  Street  too  in  Clerkenwell,  on  the  site  of  which 
stood  the  residence  of  Sir  Maurice  Berkeley,  the 
standard-bearer  of  Henry  VIII.,  Edward  VI.,  and 
Elizabeth. 

Berkshire.     The  Beoric,  or  "  forest  shire,"  of  the  Saxons. 

Berlin.  From  the  Slavonic  Berk,  denoting  its  situation  in 
the  midst  of  a  sandy  plain. 

Bermondsey.  The  eyt  or  creek  land,  belonging  to  the 
Saxon  lord  Beomund. 

Bermuda  Islands.  After  Juan  Bermudas,  who  discovered 
them  in  1522. 

Bernardine  Hospice.  This  noble  institution  on  the  Alpine 
heights  was  not  founded  by  St  Bernard,  nor  has  it  ever 


32  Bernardines — Big  Ben 

been  served  by  the  monks  of  his  Order.  It  takes  its 
name  from  Bernard  de  Menthon,  a  wealthy  Savoyard, 
who  in  962  established  this  house  of  refuge  for  the 
pilgrims  crossing  the  Alps  on  their  way  to  the  Holy 
Land.  The  monks  who  serve  the  Hospice  are 
Augustinians. 

Bernardines.  The  monastic  Order  founded  by  St  Bernard 
in  1 1 15. 

Berne.  From  the  German  Baren,  which  expresses  the 
plural  for  bear.  The  figure  of  a  bear  is  conspicuous 
on  the  public  buildings,  fountains,  etc. 

Berners  Street.  After  Lady  Berners,  the  original  owner  of 
the  land  hereabouts. 

Best  Man  at  a  Wedding.  A  survival  of  feudal  times,  when 
the  particular  friends  of  the  "  Bridegroom  "  undertook 
to  frustrate  the  designs  of  a  rival  sworn  to  carry  off  the 
bride  before  the  nuptials  could  take  place.  In  Sweden 
weddings  formerly  took  place  under  cover  of  night. 
Behind  the  high  altar  of  the  ancient  church  at  Husaby, 
in  Gothland,  a  collection  of  long  lances,  with  sockets 
for  torches,  may  yet  be  seen.  These  were  served  out 
to  the  groomsmen  on  such  occasions,  both  for  defence 
and  illumination.  These  groomsmen  were  the  bravest 
and  best  who  could  be  found  to  volunteer  their  services. 

Bethlehem.  Hebrew  for  "house  of  bread."  Hence 
Bethlehem  Hospital,  the  original  name  for  a  lazar  or 
poor  house. 

Bethnal  Green.  Anciently  Bednal  Green,  but  corrupted 
from  the  family  name  of  the  Bathons,  who  resided  here, 
temp.  Edward  I. 

Bevis  Marks.  Properly  Bury's  Marks,  from  the  posts 
to  define  the  limits  of  the  ground  belonging  to  the 
town  house  of  the  Abbots  of  Bury. 

Bideford  Postman.  The  sobriquet  of  Edward  Capern,  the 
poet,  who  was  a  letter-carrier  at  Bideford  in  Devon. 

Big  Ben.  After  Sir  Benjamin  Hall,  Bart.,  M.P.,  one  of  the 
designers  of  the  New  Houses  of  Parliament,  and  Chief 
Commissioner  of  Works. 


Big  Bend  State — Birmingham      33 

Big  Bend  State.  Tennessee,  which  name  expresses  the 
Indian  for  "river  of  the  great  bend." 

Bilbo.  The  old  name  for  a  Spanish  sword  blade  made  at 
Bilboa. 

Bilboes.  The  irons  with  which  mutinous  sailors  are 
manacled  together.  From  Bilboa,  Spain,  their  place 
of  origin. 

Bilker.  A  corruption  of  Ba/ker,  one  who  balks  or  outwits 
another.  In  our  day  one  hears  mostly  of  the  "Cab 
bilker"  ;  formerly  the  "Tavern  bilker"  was  an  equally 
reprehensible  character. 

Billingsgate.  After  Belin,  a  Saxon  lord,  who  had  a  resi- 
dence beside  the  old  Roman  water-gate  on  the  north 
bank  of  the  Thames. 

Billiter  Street.  A  corruption  of  Belzettar,  the  name  of 
the  first  builder  on  the  land  hereabouts. 

Billycock.  The  slang  term  for  a  "  bowler  "  hat  always  worn 
by  William  Coke  at  the  Holkham  shooting  parties. 

Bingham's  Dandies.  One  of  the  nicknames  of  the  17th 
Lancers,  after  their  Colonel  and  their  smart  uniforms. 

Bioscope.  Moving  or  living  pictures  thrown  on  a  screen, 

so   called   from  the   Greek  dios,  life,  and  skopein,  to 

view. 
Birchin  Lane.     Properly  Birchover  Lane,  after  the  name  of 

the  builder. 
Birdcage  Walk.    From  the  Royal  Aviary  of  the  Restoration, 

located  along  the  south  wall  of  St  James's  Park. 

Bird  of  Passage.  A  hotel  phrase  applied  to  a  guest  who 
arrives  at  stated  seasons. 

Bird's  Eye  Tobacco.  So  called  from  the  oval  shape  of  the 
stalks  when  cut  up  with  the  leaf. 

Birkbeck  Institute.  The  premier  Mechanics'  Institute, 
established  by  Dr  Birkbeck  in  1824. 

Birmingham.  Called  Bremenium  by  the  Romans  and 
Birmingeham  in  Domesday  Book.  This  being  so,  it 
cannot  be  corrupted  from  "Broom-place  town,"  as 
some  authors  say. 

c 


34  Birrell— Blackguards 

Birrell.  To  write,  speak,  or  do  anything  after  the  manner 
of  Mr  Augustine  Birrell,  M.P.,  President  of  the  Board 
of  Education. 

Birrelligion.  A  word  coined  by  Dr  Casterelli,  Roman 
Catholic  Bishop  of  Salford,  who,  speaking  on  Mr 
Birrell's  New  Education  Bill,  said  it  was  not  one  exactly 
of  irreligion,  but  of  Birrelligion,  acceptable  to  no  party 
or  denomination. 

Bishopsgate  Street.  From  the  ancient  city  gate  rebuilt  by 
Bishop  Irkenwald,  the  son  of  King  Offa,  and  repaired 
by  Bishop  William  in  the  time  of  the  Conqueror. 

Biz.     Theatrical  slang  for  "  business  "  or  stage  by-play. 

Black  Brunswickers.  A  celebrated  regiment  of  seven 
hundred  volunteers  raised  in  Bohemia  in  1809  by 
Frederick  William,  Duke  of  Brunswick,  who  took  up 
arms  against  Napoleon  because  the  latter  had  ob- 
structed his  succession  to  his  father's  dukedom.  Their 
uniform  was  black,  in  token  of  mourning  for  the  de- 
ceased Duke.  Finding  they  could  not  bear  against  the 
power  of  France,  they  enlisted  in  the  English  service. 
Thus  it  came  to  pass  that  the  Black  Brunswickers 
fought  at  the  Battle  of  Waterloo,  where  their  gallant 
leader  met  his  death.  Afterwards  they  were  heard  of 
no  more. 

Black  Bull.  An  inn  sign  derived  from  the  heraldic  device 
of  the  House  of  Clare. 

Black  Country.  The  name  given  to  the  great  coalfield 
in  the  Midlands.  It  extends  from  Birmingham  to 
Wolverhampton  on  one  side  and  from  Lyle  Waste  to 
West  Bromwich  on  the  other. 

Black  Friars.  The  Order  of  the  Dominicans,  so  called 
from  their  habits.  In  the  district  of  Blackfriars  stood 
the  great  monastery. 

Blackguards.  A  derisive  nickname  given  originally  to  the 
scullions  of  the  Royal  Household,  touching  their 
grimy  appearance,  as  contrasted  with  the  spruceness 
of  the  Guards  of  Honour. 


Blackheath — Blankets  3  5 

Blackheath.     A  corruption  of  Bleak  Heath. 

Blackleg.  After  sporting  men  of  a  low  type,  who  invariably 
wore  black  gaiters  or  top-boots. 

Blackmail.  Originally  a  tax  or  tribute  paid  to  robbers  or 
freebooters  as  a  compromise  for  protection.  "  Black  " 
implied  the  Gaelic  for  security,  while  mal  was  Anglo- 
Saxon  for  tribute. 

Black  Maria.  Slang  for  a  prison  van.  Many  years  ago  a 
negress  of  powerful  build  and  strength,  named  Maria 
Lee,  kept  a  sailor's  lodging-house  at  Boston.  Everyone 
dreaded  her,  and  she  so  frequently  assisted  the  police 
of  that  day  to  pin  down  a  refractory  prisoner  before  he 
could  be  manacled  that  "Send  for  Black  Maria!" 
became  quite  a  common  exclamation  among  them. 
Hence  the  earliest  vehicles  for  the  conveyance  of 
offenders  against  law  and  order,  especially  since  they 
were  painted  black,  were  named  after  her. 

Black  Museum.  The  collection  of  criminal  relics  preserved 
at  the  headquarters  of  the  Metropolitan  Police  at  New 
Scotland  Yard. 

Black  Prince.  The  sobriquet  of  Edward,  Prince  of  Wales, 
son  of  Edward  III.,  not  because  he  wore  black  armour, 
as  is  generally  supposed,  but,  according  to  Froissart, 
"by  terror  of  his  arms,"  and  again,  Strutt,  "for  his 
martial  deeds." 

Black  Sea.  From  its  many  black  rocks,  which  render 
navigation  dangerous. 

Blackwall.     A  corruption  of  Bleak  Wall. 

Black  Watch.  Soldiers  first  appointed  to  watch  the 
Highlands  of  Scotland.  They  received  the  name 
from  their  black  tartans. 

Blandford  Square.  From  Blandford,  Dorsetshire,  near 
Bryanstone,  the  seat  of  the  great  ground  landlord, 
Viscount  Portman. 

Blankets.  First  made  by  the  Brothers  Blanket,  of  Bristol, 
in  1337. 


36  Blarney — Bloomers 

Blarney.  Suave  speeches  intended  only  to  gain  time.  When 
Cormack  Macarthy  was  besieged  by  the  English  in 
Blarney  Castle  in  1662  he  concluded  an  armistice,  with 
the  object  of  surrendering  after  a  few  days  J  but  instead 
of  doing  so  he  sent  out  soft,  evasive  speeches,  until  Lord 
Carew  and  his  soldiers  were  forced  to  admit  that  they 
had  been  duped.  Hence  the  expression  :  "  None  of 
your  Blarney." 

Blenheim  Oranges.  First  cultivated  at  Blenheim,  the  seat 
of  the  Duke  of  Marlborough. 

Blenheim  Street.  In  compliment  to  the  Duke  of  Marl- 
borough after  the  battle  of  Blenheim. 

Blind  Man's  Buff.  So  called  because  if  any  one  of  those 
taking  part  in  the  game  allowed  the  blind  man  to  buff 
up  against  him  he  had  to  be  blindfolded  in  his  place. 

Blood.     See  "  Penny  Blood." 

Bloody.  The  addiction  of  the  vulgar  to  the  use  of  this 
adjective  on  all  occasions  has  made  it  low  and  repre- 
hensible. Anciently,  however,  it  was  employed  in  a 
most  reverential  sense,  relative  to  the  Blood  of  Christ 
— e.g.  the  "  Bloody  Sacrifice  of  the  Mass." 

Bloody  Assizes.  Those  held  by  Judge  Jeffreys  in  1685  f°r 
the  punishment  of  all  who  had  taken  part  in  the  Duke 
of  Monmouth's  rebellion.  Three  hundred  persons  were 
executed,  and  more  than  a  thousand  transported  to  the 
plantations. 

Bloody  Butcher.  The  sobriquet  of  the  Duke  of  Cumber- 
land, son  of  George  II.,  owing  to  his  wholesale 
slaughter  of  the  adherents  of  Prince  Charles  Stuart, 
the  Young  Pretender,  after  the  battle  of  Culloden. 

Bloody  Eleventh.  The  nth  Foot,  in  memory  of  the  terrible 
slaughter  inflicted  on  this  regiment  at  Salamanca. 

Bloody  Tower.  Where  the  infant  Princes  were  murdered 
at  the  order  of  their  uncle,  Richard,  Duke  of  Glo'ster. 

Bloomers.  After  Mrs  Ann  Bloomer  of  New  York,  who 
introduced  the  original  nondescript  style  of  "New 
Woman  "  in  1849. 


Bloomsbury — Blue  Law  State      37 

Bloomsbury.  A  corruption  of  "  Lomesbury,"  the  name  of  a 
manor  house  and  grounds  which  stood  on  the  site  of 
the  present  square.  "Lomesbury  village"  sprang  up 
around  the  ancient  church  of  St  Giles's  in-the- Fields. 

Bluchers.  After  Field-Marshal  von  Blucher,  who  affected 
this  style  of  military  half-boot. 

Blue.  An  indecent  story  is  said  to  be  "blue"  because 
harlots  in  the  ancient  Bridewell,  and  in  more  modern 
houses  of  correction  or  penitentiaries,  were  habited  in 
blue  gowns. 

Blue  Boar.  An  inn  sign  derived  from  the  heraldic  device 
of  Richard  III. 

Blue  Grass  State.  Kentucky,  from  the  character  of  the 
orchard  grass  in  this  fertile  limestone  region. 

Blue  Hen's  Chickens.  A  nickname  for  the  people  of 
Delaware.  The  Delaware  State  Journal  thus  accounts 
for  its  origin  :  "  At  the  beginning  of  the  Revolutionary 
War  there  lived  in  Sussex  county  of  that  colony  a 
gentleman  of  fortune  named  Caldwell,  who  was  a 
sportsman,  and  breeder  of  fine  horses  and  game-cocks. 
His  favourite  axiom  was  that  the  character  of  the 
progeny  depends  more  on  the  mother  than  on  the 
father,  and  that  the  finest  game-cocks  depended  on 
the  hen  rather  than  on  the  cock.  His  observation  led 
him  to  select  a  blue  hen,  and  he  never  failed  to  hatch 
a  good  game-cock  from  a  blue  hen's  egg.  Caldwell 
distinguished  himself  as  an  officer  in  the  First  Dele- 
ware  Regiment  for  his  daring  spirit.  The  high  state 
of  its  discipline  was  conceded  to  its  exertions,  so  that 
when  officers  were  sent  on  recruiting  service  it  was 
said  that  they  had  gone  home  for  more  of  Caldwell's 
game-cocks  j  but  as  Caldwell  insisted  that  no  cock 
could  be  truly  game  unless  its  mother  was  a  blue  hen, 
the  expression  Blue  Herts  Chickens  was  substituted  for 
game-cocks." 

Blue  Law  State.  An  old  name  for  Connecticut,  whose 
original  settlers  shared  with  the  Puritans  in  the  mother 
country  a  disgust  of  the  licentiousness  of  the  Court 


38  Blue  Noses — Bobby 

of  the  Restoration,  and  on  this  account  were  said  to 
advocate  "  Blue  "  Laws. 

Blue  Noses.  A  nickname  bestowed  upon  the  Nova 
Scotians,  from  the  species  of  potato  which  they  pro- 
duce and  claim  to  be  the  best  in  the  world. 

Blue  Peter.  The  flag  hoisted  at  the  mast  head  to  give 
notice  that  a  vessel  is  about  to  sail.  Its  name  is  a 
corruption  of  the  French  "Bleu  Partir,"  or  blue  de- 
parture signal. 

Blue  Pig.     An  inn  sign,  corrupted  from  the  "  Blue  Boar." 

Blue  Stocking.  From  the  famous  club  of  literary  ladies 
formed  by  Mrs  Montague  in  1840,  at  which  Benjamin 
Stillingfleet,  who  habitually  wore  blue  stockings,  was 
a  regular  visitor.  Blue  stockings,  therefore,  became  the 
recognised  badge  of  membership.  There  was,  how- 
ever, such  a  club  of  ladies  and  gentlemen  at  Venice 
as  far  back  as  1400,  called  Delia  Calza,  from  the  colour 
of  stockings  worn. 

Blunderbuss.  A  corruption  of  the  Dutch  donderbus, 
"thunder  tube." 

Board  of  Green  Cloth.  The  steward  of  the  Royal  House- 
hold presides  over  this  so  called  court,  which  has  a 
green  cover  on  its  table. 

Boar's  Head.  The  sign  of  the  ancient  tavern  in  Eastcheap 
immortalised  by  Shakespeare.  This,  like  all  others  of 
the  same  name,  was  derived  from  the  heraldic  device 
of  the  Gordons,  the  earliest  of  whom  slew  a  boar  that 
had  long  been  a  terror  of  the  forest. 

Bob  Apple.  A  very  old  boyish  pastime.  Standing  on 
tiptoe,  with  their  hands  behind  them,  they  tried  to 
catch  in  their  mouths  an  apple  as  it  swung  to  and  fro 
at  the  end  of  a  piece  of  string  suspended  from  the 
ceiling.  A  variant  of  the  same  game  consisted  in  lying 
across  a  form  and  plunging  their  heads  into  a  large  tub 
of  water,  at  the  bottom  of  which  was  the  apple. 

Bobby.     The  nickname  of  a  policeman,  after  Sir  Robert 


Bobs— Bolivia  39 

Peel,  to  whom  the  introduction  of  the  modern  police 
system  was  due. 

Bobs.  The  popular  nickname  of  Lord  Roberts  during  the 
South  African  War.     He  is  also  called  "Lord  Bobs." 

Boer.  Expresses  the  Dutch  for  a  farmer.  Synonymous 
with  the  English  "boor,"  an  uncultivated  fellow,  a 
tiller  of  the  soil. 

Bogtrotter.  An  Irishman,  from  the  ease  with  which  he 
makes  his  way  across  the  native  bogs,  in  a  manner 
astonishing  to  a  stranger. 

Bogus.  In  reporting  a  trial  at  law  The  Boston  Courier  in 
1857  gave  the  following  authoritative  origin: — "The 
word  Bogus  is  a  corruption  of  the  name  of  one  Borghese, 
a  very  corrupt  individual,  who  twenty  years  ago  or 
more  did  a  tremendous  business  in  the  way  of  supply- 
ing the  great  west,  and  portions  of  the  south-west, 
with  counterfeit  bills  and  bills  on  fictitious  banks. 
The  western  people  fell  into  the  habit  of  shortening 
the  name  of  Borghese  to  that  of  Bogus,  and  his  bills, 
as  well  as  all  others  of  like  character,  were  universally 
styled  by  them  'bogus  currency.'"  So  that  the  word 
is  really  American. 

Bohea.  Tea  of  the  poorest  quality,  grown  in  the  hilly  dis- 
trict of  Wu-i ;  pronounced  by  the  Chinese  Vooy. 

Bohemia.  From  the  Bohii,  the  ancient  inhabitants  of  the 
country. 

Bohemian.  One  who  leads  a  hand-to-mouth  existence  by 
literary  or  other  precarious  pursuits,  who  shuns  the 
ordinary  conventions  of  society,  and  aspires  to  that  only 
of  his  fellows.  The  term  originally  meant  a  "  Gipsy," 
because  the  earliest  nomadic  people  who  overran 
Western  Europe  did  so  by  way  of  Bohemia. 

Boiled  Shirt.  An  Americanism,  originally  from  the 
western   states,   for  a   starched  white  shirt. 

Bolivia.  After  General  Simon  Bolivar,  surnamed  "  The 
Liberator  of  Peru." 


40  Bologna — Boot-jack 

Bologna.  A  settlement  of  the  Boii,  after  whom  the  Romans 
called  it  Bononia. 

Bomba.  The  sobriquet  of  Ferdinand,  King  of  Naples,  on 
account  of  his  bombardment  of  Messina  in  1848. 

Bonanza  State.  Nevada,  on  account  of  its  rich  mines, 
styled  Bonanza  mines.  Bonanza  is  Spanish  for 
"  prosperity." 

Bond  Street  (Old  and  New).  Built  on  the  land  owned 
by  Sir  Thomas  Bond,  Comptroller  of  the  Household 
of  Charles  I. 

Bone  of  Contention.  In  allusion  to  two  dogs  fighting  over 
a  bone. 

Bone-shaker.  The  original  type  of  bicycle,  with  wooden 
wheels,  of  which  the  rims  consisted  of  small  curved 
pieces  glued  together.  Compared  with  a  modern 
machine  it  was  anything  but  easy  riding. 

Boniface.  The  popular  name  for  an  innkeeper — not  that 
St  Boniface  was  the  patron  saint  of  drawers  and  tapsters, 
but  because  one  of  the  Popes  of  this  name  instituted 
what  was  called  "St  Boniface's  Cup,"  by  granting  an 
indulgence  to  all  who  toasted  his  health,  or  that  of 
his  successors,  immediately  after  saying  grace  at  meals. 

Booking  Office.  In  the  old  coaching  days  passengers  had 
to  book  their  seats  for  a  stage  journey  several  days  in 
advance  at  an  office  in  the  innyard  whence  the  coaches 
set  out.  When  railways  came  in  the  name  was  re- 
tained, though  no  "booking"  was  ever  in  evidence. 
Nearly  all  the  old  coaching  innyards  have  been  con- 
verted into  railway  goods  and  parcels  receiving  depots. 

Bookmaker.  From  the  way  in  which  be  adjusts  his  clients' 
bets,  so  that,  ordinarily,  he  cannot  lose  on  the  issue  of 
a  day's  racing. 

Boot-jack.  A  wooden  contrivance  by  which  the  wearer 
could  help  himself  to  take  off  his  high-legged  boots 
without  the  aid  of  a  servant.  Hence  it  was  called  a 
jack,  which  is  the  generic  term  for  a  man-servant  or  boy. 


Border  Eagle  State— Botany  Bay    41 

Border  Eagle  State.  Mississippi,  on  account  of  the  Border 
Eagle  in  the  arms  of  the  state. 

Bore.  This  name  was  first  applied  by  the  "  Macaronies  "  to 
any  person  who  disapproved  of  foppishness  or  dandy- 
ism. Nowadays  it  implies  one  whose  conversation  is 
uninteresting,  and  whose  society  becomes  repugnant. 

Borneo.  A  European  application  of  the  Sanskrit  boorni, 
land. 

Born  in  the  Purple.  Since  purple  was  the  Imperial  colour 
of  the  Caesars  and  the  Emperors  of  the  East,  the  sons 
of  the  reigning  monarch  were  said  to  be  born  in  it. 
This  expression  had  a  literal  truth,  for  the  bed  furniture 
was  draped  with  purple. 

Born  with  a  Silver  Spoon  in  his  Mouth.  In  allusion  to 
the  silver  apostle  spoon  formerly  presented  to  an  infant 
by  its  godfather  at  baptism.  In  the  case  of  a  child 
born  lucky  or  rich  such  a  gift  of  worldly  goods  was 
anticipated  at  the  moment  of  entering  life. 

Borough.  The  Burgh  or  town  which  arose  on  the  south  side 
of  Old  London  Bridge,  long  before  the  City  of  London 
became  closely  packed  with  streets  and  houses. 

Borough  English.  A  Saxon  custom,  whereby  the  youngest 
son  of  a  burgher  inherited  everything  from  his  father, 
instead  of  the  eldest,  as  among  the  Normans. 

Bosh.     See  "All  Bosh." 

Bosphorus.  From  the  Greek  bos-fiorus,  cow  strait,  agree- 
ably to  the  fable  that  Io,  transformed  into  a  white  cow, 
swam  across  it. 

Boss.  A  term  derived  from  the  Dutch  settlers  of  New 
York,  in  whose  language  baas  (pronounced  like  the  a 
in  all),  expressed  an  overseer  or  master. 

Boston.  Short  for  St  Botolph's  Town.  "The  stump"  of 
the  church  is  seen  from  afar  across  the  Boston  Deeps. 

Botany  Bay.  So  called  by  Captain  Cook  on  account  of  the 
variety  of,  to  him,  new  plants  found  on  its  shores. 
This  portion  of  New  South  Wales  was  the  first  British 


42         Botolph  Lane— Box  Office 

Convict   Settlement ;    hence   Botany   Bay   became   a 
term  synonymous  with  penal  servitude. 

Botolph  Lane.     From  the  church  of  St  Botolph,  situated 

in  it. 
Bottle  of  Hay.     A  corruption  of  "bundle  of  hay,"  from 

the  French  botte,  a  bundle,  of  which  the  word  bottle 

expresses  the  diminutive. 

Bottom  Dollar.     An  Americanism  for  one's  last  coin. 

Bovril.  An  adaptation  of  bovis,  ox,  and  vril,  strength — the 
latter  being  a  word  coined  by  Lord  Lytton  in  "The 
Coming  Race.". 

Bow.  From  the  ancient  stone  bridge  over  the  Lea,  which 
was  the  first  ever  built  in  this  country  on  a  bow  or 
arch. 

Bow  Church.  Properly  the  church  of  St  Mary-le-Bow, 
Cheapside,  the  first  in  this  country  to  be  built  on  bows 
or  arches. 

Bowdlerise.  In  the  year  1818  Thomas  Bowdler  brought 
out  an  expurgated  edition  of  Shakespeare's  Plays ; 
hence  a  "Bowdlerised  Edition"  of  any  work  is  one 
of  which  the  original  text  has  been  unwarrantably 
tampered  with. 

Bowie  Knife.  After  Colonel  Jim  Bowie,  a  famous  fighter 
of  the  western  states,  who  first  armed  himself  with 
this  weapon. 

Bow  Street.     From  its  arc  shape  when  first  laid  out. 

Bow  Street  Runners.  Primitive  detectives  sent  out  from 
their  headquarters  in  Bow  Street  in  highwayman  days. 

Bowyer  Tower.  Anciently  the  residence  of  the  Tower 
bowyer  or  bowmaker.  Here,  according  to  tradition, 
the  Duke  of  Clarence  was  drowned  in  a  butt  of 
"  Malmsey." 

Boxing  Day.     See  "  Christmas-box." 

Box  Office.  At  one  time  only  the  private  boxes  at  a  theatre 
could  be  booked  in  advance ;  hence  the  term. 


Box  the  Compass— Brazil  43 

Box  the  Compass.  To  be  able  to  repeat  all  the  thirty-two 
degrees  or  points  of  the  mariner's  compass ;  a  mental 
exercise  all  round  the  compass-box. 

Boycott.  To  ostracise  a  man.  This  word  came  into  use 
in  1 88 1,  after  Captain  Boycott  of  Lough  Mark  Farm, 
co.  Mayo,  was  cut  off  from  all  social  and  commercial 
intercourse  with  his  neighbours  for  the  crime  of  being 
an  Irish  landlord. 

Boy  King.  Edward  VI.,  who  ascended  the  throne  of 
England  in  his  tenth,  and  died  in  his  sixteenth,  year. 

Boz.  Under  this  nom  de  plume  Charles  Dickens  published 
his  earliest  "  Sketches  "  of  London  life  and  character 
in  The  Morning  Chronicle.  He  has  told  us  himself 
that  this  was  the  pet  name  of  a  younger  brother,  after 
Moses  Primrose  in  "The  Vicar  of  Wakefield."  The 
infantile  members  of  the  family  pronounced  the  name 
"Bozes,"  and  at  last  shortened  it  into  "Boz." 

Bradford.  From  the  Anglo-Saxon  Bradenford,  "broad 
ford." 

Braggadocio.  After  Braggadochio,  a  boasting  character  in 
Spenser's  "  Faery  Queene." 

Brahma  Fowl.  Originally  from  the  district  of  the  Brahma- 
pootra River  in  India.  Pootra  is  Sanskrit  for  Son ; 
hence  the  river  name  means  "  The  Son  of  Brahma." 

Brandy.  From  the  German  Brantweiny  burnt  wine.  A 
spirituous  distillation  from  wine. 

Brazenose  College.  The  brazen  nose  on  the  college  gate 
notwithstanding,  this  name  was  derived  from  the  fact 
that  here  stood  an  ancient  brasenhuis,  or  "brew- 
house."  Oxford  has  always  been  famous  for  the 
excellent  quality  of  its  beer. 

Bravo.  In  Italy  one  who  is  always  boasting  of  his  courage 
and  prowess  \  generally  a  hired  assasin. 

Brazil.  From  braza,  the  name  given  by  the  Portuguese  to 
the  red  dye-wood  of  the  country. 


44         Bread  Street— Bride  Lane 

Bread  Street.  Where  the  bakers  had  their  stalls  in  con- 
nection with  the  Old  Chepe,  or  market. 

Break  Bread.  To  accept  hospitality.  In  the  East  bread 
is  baked  in  the  form  of  large  cakes,  which  are  broken, 
never  cut  with  a  knife.  To  break  bread  with  a  stranger 
ensures  the  latter  personal  protection  as  long  as  he 
remains  under  the  roof  of  his  host. 

Breakfast.  The  morning  meal,  when  the  fast  since  the 
previous  night's  supper  is  broken. 

Break  the  Bank.  Specifically  at  the  gaming  -  tables  of 
Monte  Carlo.  With  extraordinary  luck  this  may  be 
done  on  occasion ;  but  the  winner's  triumph  is  short- 
lived since,  the  capital  of  the  bank  being  unlimited, 
if  he  continues  to  play  after  fresh  stores  of  gold  have 
been  produced,  he  must  lose  in  the  end. 

Brecon.     See  "  Brecknock." 

Brecknock.  The  capital  (also  called  Brecon)  of  one  of  the 
shires  of  Wales,  originally  Breckineauc,  after  Brychan, 
a  famous  Welsh  prince.  Brecknock  Road  takes  its 
name  from  Lord  Camden,  Earl  of  Brecknock,  the 
ground  landlord. 

Breeches  Bible.  From  the  word  "  breeches  "  for  "  aprons  " 
(Genesis  iii.  7). 

Brentford.     The  ford  over  the  Brent. 

Breviary.  The  name  given  to  an  abridgment  of  the  daily 
prayers,  for  the  use  of  priests,  during  the  Seven 
Canonical  Hours,  made  by  Pope  Gregory  VII.  in  the 
eleventh  century. 

Brevier.  The  style  of  type  originally  employed  in  the 
composition  of  the  Catholic  "  Breviary." 

Bridegroom.  The  word  groom  comes  from  the  Gothic  and 
Anglo-Saxon  guma,  man,  allied  to  the  Latin  homo, 
man.  It  still  expresses  a  man-servant  who  grooms 
or  attends  to  his  master's  horse. 

Bride  Lane.     From  the  church  of  St  Bride  or  Bridget. 


Bride  of  the  Sea— Brixton         45 

Bride  of  the  Sea.  Venice,  in  allusion  to  the  ancient 
ceremony  of  "  The  Marriage  of  the  Adriatic." 

Bridewell.  The  name  anciently  given  to  a  female  peni- 
tentiary, from  the  original  establishment  near  the  well 
of  St  Bride  or  Bridget  in  the  parish  of  Blackfriars. 
The  name  is  preserved  in  Bridewell  Police  Station. 

Brigadier.     The  commanding  officer  of  a  brigade. 

Bridge.  Twenty  years  ago  two  families  at  Great  Dalby, 
Leicestershire,  paid  each  other  a  visit  on  alternate 
nights,  for  a  game  of  what  they  called  Russian  whist. 
Their  way  lay  across  a  broken  bridge,  very  dangerous 
after  nightfall.  "Thank  goodness,  it's  your  bridge 
to-morrow  night ! "  they  were  wont  to  exclaim  on  part- 
ing.    This  gave  the  name  to  the  game  itself. 

Bridge  of  Sighs.  The  bridge  forming  a  covered  gallery 
over  the  Canal  at  Venice  between  the  State  prisons  on 
the  one  hand  and  the  palace  of  the  Doges  on  the  other. 
Prisoners  were  led  to  the  latter  to  hear  the  death 
sentence  pronounced,  and  thence  to  execution.  No 
State  prisoner  was  ever  known  to  recross  this  bridge ; 
hence  its  name. 

Bridgewater  Square.  From  the  town  house  of  the  Earls  of 
Bridgewater. 

Brief.  A  brief  summary  of  all  the  facts  of  a  client's  case 
prepared  by  a  solicitor  for  the  instruction  of  counsel. 

Bristol.  Called  by  the  Anglo-Saxons  "  Brightstow"  or 
pleasant,   stockaded   place. 

Britain.  This  country  was  known  to  the  Phoenicians  as 
Barat-Anac,  "  the  land  of  time."  The  Romans  called 
it  Britannia. 

British  Columbia.  The  only  portion  of  North  America 
which  honours  the  memory,  as  a  place  name,  of  Chris- 
topher Columbus. 

Brittany.     The  land  anciently  possessed  by  the  kings  of 

Britain. 
Brixton.     Anciently  Brigestan,  the  bridge  of  stone. 


46  Broadside — Bucephalus 

Broadside.  A  large  sheet  printed  straight  across  instead 
of  in  columns. 

Broker.  From  the  Anglo-Saxon  brucan^  through  the  Old 
English  brocour,  to  use  for  profit. 

Brompton.  Anciently  Broom  Town,  or  place  of  the  broom 
plant. 

Brook  Street.  From  a  stream  meandering  through  the  fields 
from  Tyburn. 

Brooke  Street.  From  the  town  house  of  Fulke  Greville, 
Lord  Brooke.  In  this  street  the  boy  poet  Chatterton 
poisoned  himself. 

Brother  Jonathan.  After  Jonathan  Turnbull,  the  adviser 
of  General  Washington  in  all  cases  of  military  emerg- 
ency. "  We  must  ask  Brother  Jonathan "  was  the 
latter's  invariable  reply  to  a  suggestion  made  to  him. 

Brougham.     First  made  to  the  order  of  Lord:  Brougham. 

Brought  under  the  Hammer.  Put  up  for  sale  by  public 
auction.  The  allusion  is,  of  course,  to  the  auctioneer's 
hammer. 

Bruce  Castle.  The  residence  of  Robert  Bruce  after  his 
defeat  by  John  Baliol  in  the  contest  for  the  Scottish 
crown. 

Bruges.     From  its  many  bridges. 

Brummagem.  The  slang  term  for  cheap  jewellery  made 
at  Birmingham.  In  local  parlance  this  city  is 
"Brummagem,"  and  its  inhabitants  are  "Brums." 

Brunswick  Square.  Laid  out  and  built  upon  at  the  acces- 
sion of  the  House  of  Brunswick. 

Bruton  Street.  From  the  seat  of  the  Berkeleys  at  Bruton, 
Somersetshire. 

Bryanstone  Square.  From  the  seat,  near  Blandford,  Dorset, 
of  Viscount  Portman,  the  ground  landlord. 

Bucephalus.  A  horse,  after  the  famous  charger  of  Alexander 
the  Great. 


Buckeye  State— Bullion  State      47 

Buckeye  State.  Ohio,  from  the  buckeye-trees  with  which 
this  state  abounds.     Its  people  are  called  "Buckeyes." 

Buckingham.    The  Anglo-Saxon  Boccenham,  or  "  beech-tree 

village." 
Buckingham  Palace.     After  the  residence,  on  this  site,  of 

John  Sheffield,  Duke  of  Buckingham. 
Buckingham   Street.     From   the   older  mansion  of  John 

Sheffield,  Duke  of  Buckingham.     The  water-gate   is 

still  in  evidence. 

Buckle  to.  An  expression  descended  from  the  days  of 
chivalry,  when  a  knight  buckled  on  his  armour  for  the 
tournament. 

Bucklersbury.  Anciently  the  bury  or  enclosed  ground  of 
a  wealthy  grocer  named  Buckle  or  Bukerel. 

Budge  Row.  From  the  vendors  of  "  Budge  "  or  lambskin 
fur  who  congregated  here. 

Bug  Bible.  From  the  word  "  bugges  " — i.e.  bogies — in  place 
of  "  the  terror  "  (Psalm  xci.  5). 

Buggy.      From   baghi,   the    Hindustani    for   a   one-horse 

vehicle. 
Bull.     A  papal  edict,  so  called  on  account  of  the  bulla,  or 

seal. 
Bull  and  Gate.     An  inn  sign,  corrupted  from  "  Boulogne 

Gate,"  touching  the  siege  of  Boulogne  and  its  harbour 

by  Henry  VIII.  in  1544. 

Bulgaria.  A  corruption  of  Volgaria,  the  country  of  the 
Volsci. 

Bull-dog.  A  dog  originally  employed  in  the  brutal  sport  of 
bull-baiting.  The  name  is  also  given  to  one  of  the 
two  attendants  of  the  proctor  at  a  university  while 
going  his  rounds  by  night. 

Bullion  State.  Missouri,  after  Thomas  Hart  Benton,  who, 
when  representing  this  state  in  Congress,  merited  the 
nickname  of  "  Old  Bullion,"  from  his  spirited  advocacy 
of  a  gold  and  silver  currency  instead  of  "  Greenbacks  " 
or  paper. 


48        Bullyrag— Burlington  Street 

Bullyrag.     See  "  Ragging." 

Bullyruflian.  A  corruption  of  the  Bellerophon,  the  vessel 
on  which  Napoleon  surrendered  after  the  battle  of 
Waterloo. 

Bungalow.  From  the  Bengalese  bangla,  a  wooden  house 
of  one  storey  surrounded  by  a  verandah. 

Bunhill  Fields.  Not  from  the  Great  Plague  pit  in  Finsbury, 
but  from  the  cart-loads  of  human  bones  shot  here  when 
the  charnel-house  of  St  Paul's  Churchyard  was  pulled 
down  in  1549. 

Bunkum.  Originally  a  Congressman's  speech,  "full  of 
sound  and  fury,  signifying  nothing."  An  oratorial  flight 
not  intended  to  carry  a  proposal,  but  to  catch  popular 
applause.  The  representative  for  Buncombe,  in  North 
Carolina,  occupied  the  time  of  the  house  at  Washing- 
ton so  long  with  a  meaningless  speech  that  many 
members  left  the  hall.  Asked  his  reason  for  such  a 
display  of  empty  words,  he  replied :  "I  was  not 
speaking  to  the  House,  but  to  Buncombe." 

Bureau.  French  for  a  writing-desk,  from  buro,  a  drugget, 
with  which  it  was  invariably  covered. 

Burgess  Roll.     See  "  Roll  Call." 

Burgundy.  A  wine  produced  in  the  French  province  of 
the  same  name. 

Burke.  To  stop  or  gag — e.g.  to  burke  a  question.  After 
an  Irishman  of  this  name,  who  silently  and  secretly 
took  the  lives  of  many  peaceable  citizens  by  holding  a 
pitch  plaster  over  their  mouths,  in  order  to  sell  their 
bodies  to  the  doctors  for  dissection.  He  was  hanged 
in  1849.     His  crimes  were  described  as  "  Burking." 

Burleigh  Street.  From  the  residence  of  Lord  Burleigh  in 
Exeter  Street,  hard  by. 

Burlington  Street  (Old  and  New).  After  Richard  Boyle, 
Earl  of  Burlington  and  Cork,  from  whom  Burlington 
House,  refronted  by  him,  also  received  its  name. 


Burmah — By  Jingo  49 

Burmah.  From  the  natives,  who  claim  to  be  descendants 
of  Brahma,  the  supreme  deity  of  the  Hindoos. 

Burton  Crescent.     After  the  name  of  its  builder. 

Bury  St  Edmunds.  A  corruption  of  the  Borough*  of  St 
Edmund,  where  the  Saxon  king  and  martyr  was  crowned 
on  Christmas  Day,  856.  Taken  prisoner  and  killed 
by  the  Danes,  he  was  laid  to  rest  here.  Over  the  site 
of  his  tomb  Canute  built  a  Benedictine  monastery. 

Bury  Street.     Properly  Berry  Street,  after  its  builder. 

Bury  the  Hatchet.  At  a  deliberation  of  war  the  hatchet 
is  always  in  evidence  among  the  Indians  of  North 
America,  but  when  the  calumet,  or  pipe  of  peace,  is 
being  passed  round,  the  symbol  of  warfare  is  carefully 
hidden. 

Busking.  Theatrical  slang  for  an  al  fresco  performance  to 
earn  a  few  coppers.  To  "  go  busking  on  the  sands  "  is 
the  least  refined  aspect  of  a  Pierrot  Entertainment. 
See  "  Sock  and  Buskin." 

Buy  a  Pig  in  a  Poke.  A  man  naturally  wants  to  see  what 
he  is  bargaining  for.  "Poke"  is  an  old  word  for  a 
sack  or  large  bag,  of  which  pocket  expresses  the 
diminutive. 

By  Gad.     A  corruption  of  the  old  oath  "  By  God." 

By  George.  Originally  this  oath  had  reference  to  the 
patron  saint  of  England.  In  more  modern  times  it 
was  corrupted  into  "By  Jove,"  so  that  it  might  have 
applied  to  Jupiter ;  then  at  the  Hanoverian  Succession 
the  ancient  form  came  in  again. 

By  Hook  or  by  Crook.  The  final  word  here  is  a  corruption 
of  Croke.  More  than  a  century  ago  two  eminent 
K.C.'s  named  Hook  and  Croke  were  most  generally 
retained  by  litigants  in  action  at  law.  This  gave  rise 
to  the  saying :  "  If  I  can't  win  my  case  by  Hook  I  will 
by  Croke." 

By  Jingo.  An  exclamation  traceable  to  the  Basque 
mountaineers  brought  over  to  England  by  Edward  I. 
to  aid  him  in  the  subjection  of  Wales  at  the  time  when 

D 


50  By  Jove— Cadiz 

the  Plantagenets  held  possession  of  the  Basque  pro- 
vinces.   "  Jainko  "  expressed  the  supreme  deity  of  these 
hillmen. 
By  Jove.     See  "By  George." 

By  the  Holy  Rood.  The  most  solemn  oath  of  the  crusaders. 
"  Rood,"  from  the  Anglo-Saxon  rod,  was  the  Old  English 
name  for  Cross. 

By  the  Mass.  A  common  oath  in  the  days  of  our  Catholic 
ancestors,  when  quarrels  were  generally  made  up  by  the 
parties  attending  Mass  together. 

By  the  Peacock.     See  "  Peacock." 

By  the  Skin  of  my  Teeth.  An  expression  derived  from 
Job  xix.  20  :  "  My  bone  cleaveth  to  my  skin  and  to  my 
flesh,  and  I  am  escaped  with  the  skin  of  my  teeth." 

Byward  Tower.  A  corruption  of  Bearward  Tower,  the 
residence  of  the  Tower  "  Bearward."  The  bear-house 
at  our  national  fortress  in  the  time  of  James  I.  is 
mentioned  in  NichoFs  "  Progresses  and  Processions." 


Gab.  Short  for  "Cabriolet,"  or  little  caperer,  from  cabriole, 
a  goat's  leap.     See  "  Capri." 

Cabal.  A  political  term  formed  out  of  the  initials  of  the 
intriguing  ministry  of  1670 — thus:  Clifford,  Ashley, 
Buckingham,  Arlington,  and  Lauderdale. 

Cabinet.  The  designation  of  Ministers  of  State,  who  first 
conducted  their  deliberations  in  a  cabinet,  from  the 
Italian  gabtnetto,  a  small  room.  A  picture  or  photo- 
graph of  this  size  received  its  name  from  the  apartment 
for  which  it  was  best  suited. 

Cabin  Girls.  Waitresses  at  the  "Cabin  "Restaurants  Limited. 

Cablegram.     An  Americanism  for  telegram. 

Cadiz.  Called  Gades  by  the  Romans,  from  the  Phoenician 
Gadir,  enclosed,  shut  in. 


Cadogan  Square— Cambridge       51 

Cadogan  Square.  From  the  Earl  of  Cadogan,  the  lord  of 
the  manor  of  Chelsea. 

Cahoot.  An  Americanism  for  partnership  or  company, 
derived  from  the  French  capute,  hut,  cabin.  Men  who 
share  a  cabin  or  shanty  are  said  to  be  "  in  cahoot." 

Caitiff.  An  old  term  of  contempt  for  a  despicable  person, 
derived  from  the  Latin  captivis,  a  captive,  slave. 

Caius  College.  The  name  given  to  Gonville  College, 
Cambridge,  after  its  refoundation  by  Dr  Caius  by 
royal  charter  in  1558. 

Cake  Walk.  A  musical  walking  competition  round  a  cake, 
very  popular  among  the  negroes  of  the  southern  states. 
The  couple  adjudged  to  walk  most  gracefully  receive 
the  cake  as  a  prize. 

Calcutta.  From  Kalikutta,  "the  village  of  Kali,"  the 
goddess  of  time. 

Caledonia.  The  country  of  the  Caels  or  Gaels ;  Gadhel  in 
the  native  tongue  signified  a  "  hidden  cover." 

Caledonian  Road.  From  the  Royal  Caledonian  Asylum  for 
Scottish  orphans,  now  removed. 

Calico.     First  brought  from  Calicut  in  the  East  Indies. 

California.  Called  by  Cortez  Caliente  Fornalla,  or  "hot 
furnace,"  on  account  of  its  climate. 

Caliph.     From  the  Arabic  Khalifah,  a  successor. 

Called  over  the  Coals.  A  corruption  of  "  Hauled  over  the 
Coals." 

Camberwell.  From  the  ancient  holy  well  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  church  of  St  Giles,  the  patron  saint  of  cripples. 
Cam  is  Celtic  for  "crooked." 

Cambria.  The  country  of  the  Cimbri  or  Cymric  who 
finally  settled  in  Wales. 

Cambric.     First  made  at  Cam  bray  in  Flanders. 

Cambridge.  From  the  bridge  over  the  Cam,  or  "  crooked  " 
river.     See  "  Cantab." 


52         Camden  Town— Cannucks 

Oamden  Town.  After  the  Earl  of  Camden,  the  ground 
landlord. 

Camellia.  Introduced  into  Europe  by  G.  J.  Camelli,  the 
German  missionary  botanist. 

Camera  Obscura.     Literally  a  dark  chamber. 

Cameron  Highlanders.  The  Scottish  regiment  of  infantry 
raised  by  Allan  Cameron  in  1793. 

Camisard.  A  military  term  for  a  night  attack,  after  the 
Camisards,  Protestant  insurgents  of  the  seventeenth 
century,  who,  wearing  a  camise,  or  peasant's  smock, 
conducted  their  depredations  under  cover  of  night. 

Camomile  Street.  From  the  herbs  that  grew  on  the  waste 
north  of  the  city. 

Campania.  An  extensive  plain  outside  Rome,  across  which 
the  "Appian  Way"  was  constructed.  The  word 
comes  from  the  Latin  campus,  a  field. 

Campden  Square.  From  the  residence  of  Sir  Baptist  Hicks, 
created  Viscount  Campden. 

Canada.  From  the  Indian  kannatha,  a  village  or  collection 
of  huts. 

Canary.  Wine  and  a  species  of  singing  bird  brought  from 
the  Canary  Islands,  so  called,  agreeably  to  the  Latin 
cam's,  on  account  of  the  large  dogs  found  there. 

Candia.  Anciently  Crete,  called  by  the  Arabs  Khandce, 
"  island  of  trenches." 

Candy.  An  Americanism  for  sweetmeats.  The  Arabic 
quand,  sugar,  gave  the  French  word  candu 

Canned  Meat.     An  Americanism  for  tinned  meat. 

Cannibal.     See  "  Caribbean  Sea." 

Cannon  Row.  The  ancient  residence  of  the  Canons  of 
St  Stephen's  Chapel,  Westminster  Abbey. 

Cannon  Street.     A  corruption  of  Candlewick  Street,  where 

the  candle-makers  congregated. 
Cannucks.     See  "  K'nucks." 


Canonbury— Capri  53 

Canonbury.  From  the  manorial  residence  of  the  priors  of 
St  Bartholomew  Church,  Clerkenwell,  of  which  the 
ancient  tower  remains. 

Cant.  After  Alexander  and  Andrew  Cant,  a  couple  of 
bigoted  Covenanters,  who  persecuted  their  religious 
opponents  with  relentless  zeal,  and  at  the  same  time 
prayed  for  those  who  suffered  on  account  of  their 
religious  opinions. 

Cantab.  Of  Cambridge  University.  The  River  Cam  was 
anciently  called  the  Granta;  hence  the  Saxon  name 
of  the  city  Grantabrycge,  or  the  bridge  over  the  Granta, 
softened  later  into  Cantbrigge. 

Canterbury.     The  fortified  place  or  chief  town  of  "Kent." 

Canterbury  Music  Hall.  This,  the  first  of  the  London 
music  halls,  opened  in  1848,  grew  out  of  the  old-time 
popular  "free-and-easy,"  or  "sing-song,"  held  in  an 
upper  room  of  what  was  until  then  a  tavern  display- 
ing the  arms  of  the  city  of  Canterbury,  and  styled 
the  "  Canterbury  Arms." 

Cantlowes  Road.     See  "  Kentish  Town." 

Canvas  Back.  A  species  of  sea-duck,  regarded  as  a  luxury 
on  account  of  the  delicacy  of  its  flesh.  So  called  from 
the  colour  of  the  plumage  on  its  back. 

Cape  Finisterre.  Adapted  by  the  French  from  the  Latin 
finis  terras  "  land's  end." 

Capel  Court.  The  Stock  Exchange,  so  called  from  the 
residence  of  Sir  William  Capel,  Lord  Mayor  in  1504. 

Cape  of  Good  Hope.  So  called  by  John  II.,  King  of 
Portugal,  after  Diaz  had  touched  this  point  of  Africa,  as 
a  favourable  augury  for  the  circumnavigation  of  the 
globe. 

Cape  Horn.  Named  Hoorn,  after  his  birthplace,  by 
Schouten,  the  Dutch  navigator,  who  first  rounded  it. 

Capri.  From  the  Latin  caper,  a  he-goat,  expresses  the 
island  of  wild  goats. 


54        Capuchin  Friars— Carpenter 

Capuchin  Friars.  From  the  pointed  cowl  or  capuce  worn 
by  them. 

Carat  Gold.  So  called  because  gold  and  precious  stones 
were  formerly  weighted  against  carat  seeds  or  seeds 
of  the  Abyssinian  coral  flower. 

Carbonari.  Italian  for  charcoal-burners,  in  whose  huts 
this  secret  society  held  its  meetings. 

Carburton  Street.  From  the  Northamptonshire  village  on 
the  ducal  estate  of  the  ground  landlord. 

Cardiff.     From  Caer  Taff,  the  fort  on  the  Taff. 

Cardigan.     After  Ceredog,  a  famous  chieftain. 

Caribbean  Sea.  From  the  Caribbs,  which  West  Indian 
designation  signifies  "cruel  men."  Corrupted  through 
the  Spanish  Caribal,  we  have  derived  the  word 
"  Cannibal,"  for  one  who  eats  human  flesh. 

Carlton  House  Terrace.  From  Carlton  House,  built  by 
Lord  Carlton,  later  the  residence  of  Frederick,  Prince 
of  Wales,  the  father  of  George  III. 

Carmagnole.  A  wild  song  and  dance  which  came  into 
prominence  during  the  French  Revolution.  It  re- 
ceived its  name  from  Carmagnolas,  a  town  in  Piedmont, 
whence  the  Savoyard  boys  carried  the  tune  into  the 
south  of  France. 

Carmarthen.  A  corruption  of  Caer-merlin,  or  the  fortress 
built  by  Merlin,  in  the  neighbourhood  of  which  he 
was  born. 

Carmelites.    White  Friars  of  the  order  of  Mount  Carmel. 

Carnarvon.     The  fortress  on  the  Arfon,  or  water. 

Carolina.  After  Carollus,  the  Latinised  name  of  Charles 
II.,  who  granted  a  charter  of  colonisation  to  eight  of 
his  favourites. 

Caroline  Islands.     In  honour  of  Charles  I.  of  Spain. 

Carpenter.  Originally  one  who  made  only  the  body  or 
wooden  portion  of  a  vehicle.     So  called  from  the  Latin 


Carpet  Knight— Cat  and  Wheel    55 

carpentum^    waggon.      An   ordinary   worker   in    wood 
was,  and  still  is  in  the  English  provinces,  a  joiner. 

Carpet  Knight.  A  civilian  honoured  with  a  knighthood 
by  the  sovereign.  One  who  has  not  won  his  spurs  on 
the  field,  like  the  knights  of  old. 

Carry  Coals  to  Newcastle.  To  do  that  which  is  altogether 
superfluous.  It  would  be  ridiculous  to  take  coals  to  a 
place  where  they  are  found  in  abundance. 

Cartaret  Street.  After  John  Cartaret,  Earl  of  Granville, 
Secretary  of  State,  and  one  of  the  most  popular 
ministers  of  the  reign  of  George  II. 

Carte  de  Visite.  Photographs  received  this  name  because 
the  Due  de  Parma  in  1857  had  his  likeness  printed  on 
the  back  of  his  large  visiting-cards. 

Carthage.     From  the  Phoenician  Karth-hadtha,  New  Town. 

Oarthagena.     From  Carthago  JVbvo,  or  New  Carthage. 

Carthusians.  Monks  of  La  Chartreuse,  near  Grenoble. 
This  name  is  also  given  to  former  scholars  of  the 
"Charter  House." 

Carthusian  Street.  Although  some  distance  to  the  west 
of  it,  this  street  leads  to  the  "  Charter  House." 

Caspian  Sea.     From  the  Caspii,  who  peopled  its  shores. 

Castile.  In  Spanish  Castilla,  from  the  castles  or  forts  set 
up  for  defence  against  the  Moors. 

Castle.  An  inn  sign  denoting  a  wine-house,  from  the 
castle  in  the  arms  of  Spain. 

Catacombs.  Italian  Catacomba,  from  the  Greek  kata, 
downward,  and  kumbe,  a  hollow,  a  cavity. 

Cat  and  Fiddle.  A  corruption  of  "Caton  le  Fidele,"  the 
faithful  Caton,  Governor  of  Calais,  whose  name  was 
honoured  by  many  an  inn  sign. 

Cat  and  Wheel.  A  corruption  of  the  old  inn  sign  the 
"  Catherine  Wheel,"  the  instrument  of  the  martyrdom  of 
St  Catherine. 


56  Cat  Call— Chaff 

Cat  Call.  A  corruption  of  Cat  Wail.  When  a  theatre  or 
music-hall  audience  is  dissatisfied  with  the  performance, 
and  impatient  for  it  to  be  brought  to  an  end,  the 
"  Gods  "  indulging  in  "  Mewing  "  like  a  chorus  of  cats 
on  the  roof  by  night. 

Catch  a  Weasel  asleep.  No  one  ever  caught  a  weasel 
napping,  for  the  simple  reason  that  he  hides  himself  in 
a  hole  away  from  the  sight  of  man. 

Catchpenny.  Short  for  "Catnach  Penny,"  from  the  penny 
dying  speeches  and  yard  of  songs  printed  by  James 
Catnach  in  Seven  Dials,  and  hawked  about  the  streets. 
The  "  Catnach  Press "  was  as  great  a  power  in  that 
day  as  the  trashy  "  Bits  "  literature  is  in  our  own. 

Cathedral.  From  the  Greek  kathedra,  a  seat — i.e.  the 
chair  of  a  bishop.     See  "  City." 

Caucus.  From  the  Caulkers  of  Boston,  U.S.,  who  shortly 
before  the  Revolution  came  into  open  conflict  with  the 
British  soldiery.  Meetings  were  held  in  the  calk 
houses,  and  a  Caulkers'  Club  was  formed.  Since 
that  time  a  political  meeting  of  American  citizens  has 
been  styled  a  Caucus. 

Cavalier.     From  the  French  chevalier,  a  horseman. 

Cavendish.  Tobacco  pressed  into  plugs  for  chewing,  from 
the  name  of  the  first  maker. 

Cavendish  Square.  After  Henrietta  Cavendish,  second 
wife  of  Lord  Harley,  the  ground  landlord. 

Centennial  State.  Colorado,  admitted  into  the  American 
Union  one  hundred  years  after  the  Declaration  of 
Independence. 

Ceylon.  Called  by  the  Portuguese  Selen,  an  abbreviation 
of  the  Sanskrit  Sinhaladwipa,  "  Island  of  Lyons." 

Chadwell  Street.  After  the  name  of  the  source  of  the 
New  River  in  Hertfordshire.  The  well  was  anciently 
dedicated  to  St  Chad. 

Chaff.  A  corruption  of  chafe,  to  make  hot  with  anger,  as 
heat  may  be  produced  by  friction. 


Chalk  Farm— Charlatan  57 

Chalk  Farm.  Originally  "Chalcot  Farm,"  a  noted  resort 
for  duellists  of  a  past  day. 

Chalk  it  up.  In  allusion  to  the  drink  score  chalked  on  a 
slate  against  a  customer  at  a  country  ale-house. 

Champagne.  A  light  wine,  from  the  French  province  of 
the  same  name,  which  expresses  a  plain,  from  the 
Latin  campus,  field. 

Champs  de  Mars.  Expresses  the  large  open  space  or  "  Plain 
of  Mars,"  in  Paris,  set  apart  for  military  reviews. 

Chancery  Lane.  A  corruption  of  "  Chancellor's  Lane," 
from  the  town  house  of  the  Bishops  of  Chichester, 
afterwards  the  residence  of  the  Lord  High  Chancellor 
of  England. 

Chandos  Street.  From  the  residence  of  James  Bridges, 
Duke  of  Chandos. 

Chap.  Originally  short  for  "  Chapman,"  one  who  sold  his 
wares  at  a  chepe,  or  market. 

Chap  Book.  A  small  book  or  tract  sold  by  chapmen.  See 
"Chap." 

Chapel.  A  printers'  meeting  held  in  the  composing-room, 
so  called  because  Caxton  set  up  the  first  English  press 
in  a  disused  chapel  of  Westminster  Abbey.  The  pre- 
siding workman  is  styled  "The  Father  of  the  Chapel." 

Chapel  of  Ease.  An  auxiliary  place  of  worship,  for  the 
convenience  of  those  who  resided  at  a  great  distance 
from  the  parish  church. 

Charing  Cross.  The  idea  that  this  spot  received  its  name 
from  the  "  good  Queen  "  Eleanor,  whose  bier  was  set 
down  here  for  the  last  time  on  its  way  to  Westminster 
Abbey  has  been  exploded.  It  was  even  then  called 
the  village  of  Charing,  in  honour  of  La  Che~re  Reine, 
the  Blessed  Virgin,  this  being  the  usual  halting-place 
between  London  and  the  venerable  Abbey. 

Charlatan.  From  the  Italian  ciarlatano,  a  quack,  a  babbler, 
a  loquacious  itinerant  who  sold  medicines  in  a  public 
square. 


58  Charles  Martel— Cherry  Gardens  Pier 

Charles  Martel.     See  "  Martel." 

Charles  Street.     Built  upon  in  the  reign  of  Charles  II. 

Charlies.  The  old  night  watchmen  reorganised  by  Charles  I. 
These  were  the  only  civic  protectors  down  to  the  intro- 
duction of  the  modern  police  system  by  Sir  Robert  Peel. 

Charlotte  Street.     After  the  queen  of  George  III. 

Charter  House.  A  corruption  of  La  Chartreuse,  one  of  the 
English  houses  of  the  Order  of  monks  of  the  place  of 
the  same  name  in  France. 

Chartreuse.  The  liqueurs  prepared  at  the  monastery  of 
La  Chartreuse,  near  Grenoble. 

Chauffeur.  The  French  term  for  a  motor-car  driver  ;  it  has 
no  English  equivalent. 

Cheap  Jack.  A  modern  equivalent  for  "  Chap-man."  Jack 
is  a  generic  name  for  man-servant  or  an  inferior  person. 

Cheapside.  The  High  Street  of  the  city  of  London, 
consequently  abutting  on  the  chepe,  or  market-place. 

Cheese  it.  A  corruption  of  "  Choose  it  better,"  or,  in 
other  words,  "  Tell  me  something  I  can  believe." 

Chef.  French  for  head  or  master.  Employed  alone,  the 
word  expresses  a  head  man  cook. 

Chelmsford.     The  ford  over  the  Chelmer. 

Chelsea.  Anciently  "  Chevelsey,"  or  "Shingle  Island." 
See  "Chiswick." 

Chequers.  An  inn  sign  derived  from  the  arms  of  the 
Fitzwarrens,  one  of  whom  had  the  granting  of  vintners' 
licences. 

Cherry  Bob.  An  old  summer  pastime  for  boys.  A  bunch 
of  cherries  suspended  from  a  beam  or  tree-branch  was 
kept  swinging  to  and  fro,  while  the  boys,  with  their 
hands  behind  them,  tried  to  catch  the  fruit  with  their 
mouths. 

Cherry  Gardens  Pier.  A  name  reminiscent  of  a  popular 
resort    of    bygone    days    in    connection     with    the 


Cherry  Pickers— Chippendale        59 

"Jamaica"  in  front  of  which  rum,  newly  arrived  from 
the  West  Indies,  was  landed. 

Cherry  Pickers.  The  nth  Hussars,  because,  when  captured 
by  the  French  during  the  Peninsular  War,  some  men 
of  the  regiment  were  robbing  an  orchard. 

Chesapeake.     Indian  for  "  great  waters." 

Chester.     The  city  built  on  the  Roman  castra,  or  camp. 

Chestnut.  Edwin  Abbey,  the  painter  of  the  Coronation 
picture,  is  said  to  have  been  responsible  for  the  term 
"Chestnut"  as  applied  to  a  stale  joke.  While  a 
member  of  a  club  at  Philadelphia  he  always  told  a 
story  about  a  man  who  had  a  chestnut  farm,  but  made 
nothing  out  of  it  because  he  gave  his  chestnuts  away. 
Abbey  invariably  began  this  story  differently,  so  that 
his  follow  clubmen  would  not  recognise  it,  but  they 
soon  interrupted  him  by  exclaiming  "  Chestnuts  !  " 

Chestnut  Sunday.  The  first  Sunday  in  June,  when  the 
chestnut-trees  in  Bushey  Park  at  Hampton  Court  are 
in  bloom. 

Cheyne  Walk.  After  Lord  Cheyne,  lord  of  the  manor  of 
Chelsea  in  the  seventeenth  century. 

Chicago.     Indian  for  "  wild  onion." 

Chichester.  The  Roman  camp  town  taken  by  Cissa,  King 
of  the  South  Saxons,  thenceforth  called  Cissanceaster. 

Chichester  Rents.  The  site  of  the  town  mansion  of  the 
Bishops  of  Chichester. 

Chili.     Peruvian  for  "  land  of  snow." 

China.  After  Tsin,  the  founder  of  a  great  dynasty.  Earth- 
enware of  a  superior  quality  was  first  made  in  China  ; 
hence  the  name. 

Chin  Music.     An  Americanism  for  derisive  laughter. 

Chip  off  the  Old  Block.  A  saying  in  allusion  to  the 
"  Family  Tree." 

Chippendale.  Furniture  of  elegant  design,  named  after  its 
famous  maker. 


60  Chiswick— Cicerone 

Chiswick.  Anciently  "  Cheoselwick,"  or  village  of  shingles, 
from  the  Anglo-Saxon  ceosal,  sand,  gravel. 

Chocolat-Menier.  The  perfection  of  chocolate,  intro- 
duced by  M.  Menier  of  Paris,  who  died  in  1881. 

Choke  Him  off.  The  allusion  is  to  grip  a  dog  by  the  throat 
in  order  to  make  him  relax  his  hold. 

Christiania.     Rebuilt  by  Christian  IV.  of  Denmark. 

Christian  Scientists.  A  modern  offshoot  of  the  Peculiar 
People,  or  Faith  Healers,  who  believe  that  sickness 
and  pain  can  be  cured  by  faith  and  prayer  without 
medicine. 

Christmas-box.  A  relic  of  Catholic  days,  when  a  box  was 
placed  in  all  the  churches  to  receive  Christmas  alms 
for  the  poor.  These  were  distributed  on  the  day 
following. 

Christmas  Island.  Captain  Cook  landed  here  on  Christmas 
Day,  1777. 

Christ's  College.  Founded  at  Cambridge  by  Lady  Margaret, 
Countess  of  Richmond,  mother  of  Henry  VII.,  for  a 
master  and  twelve  fellows,  corresponding  to  Christ  and 
His  apostles,  to  whom  it  was  dedicated. 

Christy  Minstrels.  After  Charles  Christy,  who  introduced 
the  Negro  Minstrel  Entertainment  to  England. 

Church  Ale.  Specifically  the  ale  brewed  by  the  church- 
wardens for  merrymakers  on  the  village  green  at  Whit- 
suntide and  other  high  holidays.  Later  the  assemblage 
itself  came  to  be  styled  a  "  Church  Ale." 

Chute.  The  French  for  "  a  fall,"  applied  by  the  Americans 
to  a  declivity  of  water.  The  exciting  diversion  of 
boating  on  such  a  waterfall  is  styled  "  Shooting  the 
Chutes." 

Cicerone.  After  Cicero,  the  prince  of  speakers.  The 
comparison  between  the  celebrated  orator  and  the 
"  Roman  Guide  "  befooled  by  Mark  Twain  is  rather 
painful. 


Cigar — Clarendon  61 

Cigar.  From  the  Spanish  Cigarro,  the  original  name  of  a 
particular  kind  of  Cuban  tobacco. 

Cinderella  Dance.  Because  it  is  brought  to  an  end  at 
twelve  o'clock,  in  allusion  to  the  heroine  in  the  fairy 
story. 

Circumlocution  Oifi.ce.  A  term  first  applied  to  the  shuttle- 
cock methods  in  vogue  at  our  public  offices  by  Charles 
Dickens  in  "Little  Dorrit." 

Cistercians.  An  Order  of  monks  established  at  Cistercium, 
or  Citeau,  near  Dijon. 

City.  The  proper  and  historic  distinction  between  a  city 
and  a  town  lies  in  the  fact  that  the  former  is  the  seat 
of  a  bishop,  and  accordingly  contains  a  cathedral.  In 
modern  times  many  burghs  or  towns  have  been  ad- 
vanced to  the  dignity  of  a  city  on  account  of  their 
commercial  importance.  These  are,  however,  cities 
only  in  name. 

City  Fathers.     Aldermen  of  the  city  of  London. 

City  Golgotha.  Old  Temple  Bar,  from  the  heads  of  rebels 
spiked  on  its  top.  Golgotha  is  Hebrew  for  "  the  place 
of  skulls." 

Claim.  A  squatter's  term  for  a  piece  of  land  which  he  has 
marked  off  and  settled  upon  pending  its  legal  acquisi- 
tion from  the  Government.  During  the  gold  fever  the 
name  also  came  to  be  applied  to  the  land  parcelled  out 
to  each  digger. 

Clare  Market.  The  site  of  Clare  House,  the  residence  of 
the  Earl  of  Clare. 

Clarence.  A  carriage  named  after  the  Duke  of  Clarence, 
afterwards  William  IV. 

Clarges  Street.  From  the  mansion  of  Sir  Walter  Clarges, 
afterwards  taken  over  by  the  Venetian  ambassador. 

Clarendon.  The  black  type  first  used  at  the  Clarendon 
Press,  Oxford,  which  owed  its  foundation  to  the  profits 
of  Lord  Clarendon's  "  History  of  the  Rebellion," 
presented  to  the  University. 


62         Claude  Lorraine— Coblentz 

Claude  Lorraine.     The  assumed  name  of  the  celebrated 

landscape  painter  Claude  Galee,  who  was  a  native  of 

Lorraine. 
Cleaned  Out.     Pockets  emptied  of  cash.    The  allusion  is  to 

a  saucepan  or  other  domestic  cooking  utensil  which  is 

cleansed  after  use. 

Clerkenwell.  The  holy  well  beside  which  the  parish  clerks 
performed  their  miracle  plays  on  festival  days. 

Clifford  Street.  After  Elizabeth  Clifford,  wife  of  the  Earl 
of  Burlington. 

Closure.  A  modern  parliamentary  term  signifying  the 
right  of  the  Speaker  to  order  the  closing  of  a  useless 
debate.  The  Closure  was  first  applied  24th  February 
1884. 

Cloth  Fair.  The  great  annual  mart  for  the  sale  of  cloth 
brought  over  by  Flemish  merchants. 

Club.  From  the  German  kleben^  to  adhere,  cleave  to, 
associate. 

Clyde.     The  strong  river,  from  the  Gaelic  clyth>  strong. 

Coast  is  Clear.  Originally  a  smugglers'  phrase  relative  to 
coastguards. 

Coat  of  Arms.  During  the  days  of  chivalry,  when  a  knight 
was  completely  encased  in  armour  and  the  vizor  of  his 
helmet  was  drawn  over  his  face,  his  sole  mode  of 
distinction  was  by  the  embroidered  design  of  his 
armorial  bearings  on  a  sleeveless  coat  that  he  wore  in 
the  lists  at  tournaments.  In  warfare  the  coat  was 
dispensed  with,  but  he  was  known  to  his  comrades  by 
another  device  on  the  crest  of  his  helmet. 

Cobbler.  An  American  drink  of  spirits,  beer,  sugar,  and 
spice,  said  to  have  been  first  concocted  by  a  Western 
shoemaker. 

Coblentz.  From  the  Latin  name,  Confluentia,  being 
situated  at  the  confluence  of  the  Rivers  Rhine  and 
Moselle. 


Cockade — Coke  Hat  63 

Cockade.  From  the  party  badge  originally  displayed  on  a 
cocked  hat.     See  "  Knocked  into  a  Cocked  Hat." 

Cockade  State.  Maryland,  from  the  brilliant  cockades 
worn  by  the  brave  Old  Maryland  Regiment  during  the 
War  of  Independence. 

Cockney.  From  "Cockayne,"  a  Fools'  Paradise,  where 
there  is  nothing  but  eating  and  drinking,  described  in 
a  satiric  poem  of  the  thirteenth  century.  The  word 
was  clearly  derived  from  coquere,  to  cook,  and  had 
reference  to  London,  where  the  conduits  on  occasion 
ran  with  wine,  and  good  living  fell  to  the  lot  of  men 
generally. 

Cock-penny.  A  penny  levied  by  the  master  on  each  of  the 
boys  for  allowing  the  brutal  sport  of  cock-throwing 
in  school  on  Shrove  Tuesday  formerly.  The  master 
himself  found  the  bird. 

Cocktail.  Tradition  has  it  that  one  of  Montezuma's 
nobles  sent  a  draught  of  a  new  beverage  concocted  by 
him  from  the  cactus  plant  to  the  Emperor  by  his 
daughter  Xochitl.  The  Aztec  monarch  smiled,  tasted 
it,  gulped  it  down  with  a  relish,  and,  it  is  said,  after- 
wards married  the  girl;  thenceforward  this  drink  be- 
came the  native  tipple,  and  for  centuries  it  bore  the 
softened  name  of  Octel.  The  corruption  of  Octel  into 
Cocktail  by  the  soldiers  of  the  American  Army  when, 
under  General  Scott,  they  invaded  Mexico,  about  sixty 
years  ago,  was  easy. 

Coger.  A  slang  term  derived  from  the  members  of  the 
celebrated  Cogers'  Club  in  Salisbury  Court,  Fleet 
Street.  They  styled  themselves  "  Cogers "  from  the 
Latin  cogito,  to  think  deeply. 

Cohees.  Natives  of  Western  Pennsylvania,  owing  to  their 
addiction  to  the  phrase  "  Quoth  he,"  softened  into 
Quo'he. 

Coin  Money.  To  make  money  as  fast  as  it  is  turned  out 
at  the  Mint.     Few  men  are  so  fortunate. 

Coke  Hat.  After  William  Coke,  who  popularised  it.  See 
"Billycock." 


64    Coldbath  Fields— Commonwealth 

Coldbath  Fields.  A  district  of  Clerkenwell  now  long  built 
over,  but  famous  for  a  cold  bath ;  the  site  is  marked 
by  the  present  Bath  Street. 

Colchester.     The  camp  town  on  the  Colne. 

Coldstream  Guards.  The  regiment  raised  by  General 
Monk  at  Coldstream,  Berwickshire,  in  1660. 

Coleman  Street.  Said  to  have  been  built  upon  by  one 
Coleman;  but  long  before  his  time  the  coalmen  or 
charcoal  merchants  congregated  here. 

Colleen.  Irish  for  girl.  "Colleen  Bawn"  expresses  a 
blonde  girl. 

College  Hill.  From  a  collegiate  foundation  of  Sir  Richard 
Whittington,  thrice  Lord  Mayor  of  London. 

College  Port.  Inferior  port  served  up  to  the  older  students 
at  college.  It  is  said  to  be  specially  prepared  for  this 
market. 

Collop  Monday.  The  day  preceding  Shrove  Tuesday, 
when  housewives  cut  up  all  their  meat  into  large 
steaks  or  collops  for  salting  during  Lent. 

Cologne.  The  Colonia  Agrifipina  of  the  Romans,  so  called 
after  the  mother  of  Nero,  who  was  born  here. 

Colonel.  A  Far- West  title  of  courtesy  bestowed  upon  any- 
one who  owns  a  stud  horse. 

Colorado.  The  Spaniards  gave  this  name  to  the  state  in 
allusion  to  its  coloured  ranges. 

Colosseum.     Greek  for  "  great  amphitheatre." 

Combine.  An  Americanism  for  "  Combination."  Applied 
in  a  financial  or  commercial  sense,  this  term  is  now 
well  understood  in  our  own  country. 

Come  up  to  the  Scratch.  A  prize-fighting  expression.  A 
line  was  scratched  on  the  ground  with  a  stick,  and  the 
combatants  were  expected  to  toe  it  with  the  left  foot. 

Commonwealth.  In  theatrical  parlance,  a  sharing  out  of 
the  proceeds  of  the  week's  performances  after  all 
expenses  have  been  deducted.     This  generally  happens 


Compton  Street — Constitution  Hill    65 

when   the  manager  has    decamped    with    the   entire 
takings,  and  left  his  company  stranded. 

Compton  Street  (Old  and  New).  Built  upon  by  Sir 
Richard  Compton  and  Bishop  Compton  respectively. 

Conduit  Street.  From  a  conduit  of  spring  water  set  up 
here  before  the  land  was  built  over. 

Confidence  Man.  An  Americanism  for  one  who  in  this 
country  is  known  to  extract  money  from  strangers  by 
the  "confidence  trick." 

Confounded  Liar.  Literally  one  who  is  covered  with 
confusion  on  being  brought  face  to  face  with  the 
truth. 

Congleton  Bears.  A  nickname  given  to  the  people  of 
Congleton,  Cheshire.  Local  tradition  has  it  that  the 
bear  intended  for  baiting  at  the  holiday  sports  died, 
and,  to  procure  another,  the  authorities  appropriated 
the  money  collected  for  a  new  Church  Bible. 

Congregationalists.  Independent  Nonconformists,  who  are 
neither  Baptists  nor  Wesleyans,  and  claim  the  right  to 
"call"  their  own  ministers,  each  congregation  manag- 
ing its  own  affairs. 

Connecticut.  From  the  Indian  Quinnitukut,  "country  of 
the  long  river." 

Conscience  Money.  Money  sent  anonymously  to  the 
Treasury  in  respect  of  Income-Tax  after  the  thought 
of  having  defrauded  the  Revenue  has  pricked  the 
individual  conscience. 

Constance.  Founded  by  Constantine,  the  father  of 
Constantine  the  Great;  one  of  the  oldest  cities  of 
Germany. 

Constantinople.     The  city  of  Constantine. 

Constitution  HiU.  Where  John  Sheffield,  Duke  of  Buck- 
ingham, took  his  daily  constitutional  walk  while  re- 
siding at  Buckingham  House,  built  by  him  in  1703. 
On  the  site  of  this  mansion  George  IV.  erected  the 
present  edifice,  Buckingham  Palace,  in  1825. 

£ 


66         Cook  your  Goose— Corner 

Cook  your  Goose.  An  old  chronicler  thus  explains  this 
saying :  "  The  Kyng  of  Swedland  coming  to  a  towne 
of  his  enemyes  with  very  little  company,  his  enemyes, 
to  slyghte  his  forces,  did  hang  out  a  goose  for  him  to 
shoote,  but  perceiving  before  nyghte  that  these  fewe 
soldiers  had  invaded  and  sette  their  chief  houlds  on 
fire,  they  demanded  of  him  what  his  intent  was,  to 
whom  he  replied,  '  To  cook  your  goose.'" 

Coon.  Short  for  racoon,  an  American  animal  much  prized 
on  account  of  its  fur. 

Cooper.  A  publican's  term  for  half  ale  and  half  porter. 
See  "  Entire." 

Copenhagen  Street.  From  Copenhagen  Fields,  where  stood 
a  noted  tea-house  opened  by  a  Dane. 

Copper.  A  policeman,  from  the  thieves'  slang  cop,  to 
take,  catch. 

Copperheads.  A  political  faction  of  North  America 
during  the  Civil  War,  regarded  as  secret  foes,  and  so 
called  after  the  copperhead  serpent,  which  steals  upon 
its  enemy  unawares. 

Cordeliers.  Franciscan  Friars  distinguished  from  the 
parent  Order  by  the  knotted  waist-cord. 

Corduroy.  In  French  Cord  du  Roy,  "  King's  cord," 
because  ribbed  or  corded  material  was  originally  worn 
only  by  the  Kings  of  France. 

Cordwainer.  The  old  name  for  a  shoemaker,  because  the 
leather  he  worked  upon  was  Cordwain,  a  corruption  of 
Cordovan,  brought  from  the  city  of  Cordova. 

Cork.     From  the  Gaelic  corroch,  a  swamp. 

Cork  Street.  From  the  residence  of  Lord  Cork,  one  of 
the  four  brothers  of  the  Boyle  family. 

Corncrackers.  The  Kentuckians,  from  a  native  bird  of  the 
crane  species  called  the  Corncracker. 

Corner.  The  creation  of  a  monopoly  of  prices  in  respect 
of  naturalproduce  or  manufactured  goods.   The  allusion 


Cornhill — Court  of  Arches  67 

here  is  to  speculators  who  agreed  in  a  quiet  corner,  at 
or  near  the  Exchange,  to  buy  up  the  whole  market. 

Cornhill.     The  ancient  city  corn  market. 

Cornwall.     Pursuant  to  the  Saxon  Wahl,  the  horn  of  land 

peopled  by  foreigners. 
Corpus  Christi  College.     At  Cambridge,  founded  by  the 

united  guilds  or  fraternities  of  Corpus  Christi  and  the 

Blessed  Virgin. 

Corsica.     A  Phoenician  term  for  "  wooded  isle." 

Cossack.     The  Russian  form  of  the  Tartar  term  kasake^  a 

horseman. 
Costa  Rica.     Spanish  for  "  rich  coast." 

Costermonger.  In  Shakespeare's  time  a  Costardmonger, 
or  trader  in  a  famous  species  of  apple  so  called. 

Cottonopolis.  Manchester,  the  city  identified  with  English 
cotton  manufacture. 

Cotton    Plantation    State.      Alabama,    from    its    staple 

industry. 
Cotton  to.     An  Americanism  meaning  to  cling  to  a  man 

as  cotton  would  cling  to  his  garments. 

Counter-jumper.  The  derisive  nickname  of  a  draper's 
assistant,  on  account  of  his  agility  in  leaping  over  the 
counter  as  a  short  cut  from  one  department  to  another. 

Country  Dance.  A  corruption  of  the  French  contre  danse, 
from  the  opposite  positions  of  the  dancers. 

Coup  de  Grace.  The  merciful  finishing  stroke  of  the  exe- 
cutioner after  a  criminal  had  been  tortured  by  having 
all  his  bones  broken  on  a  wheel.  One  blow  on  the 
head  then  put  him  out  of  his  misery. 

Court  Cards.  Properly  Coat  Cards,  on  account  of  their 
heraldic  devices. 

Court  of  Arches.  The  ecclesiastical  Court  of  Appeal  for 
the  Archbishopric  of  Canterbury  which  in  ancient 
times  was  held  in  the  crypt  of  St  Mary-le-Bow,  or  St 
Mary  of  the  Arches  at  Cheapside.    See  "  Bow  Church." 


68  Court  Plaster— Cravat 

Court  Plaster.  The  plaster  out  of  which  ladies  of  the 
Court  fashioned  their  decorative  (?)  face  patches. 

Covenanters.  Those  who  entered  into  a  Solemn  League 
or  Covenant  to  resist  the  religious  and  political 
measures  of  Charles  I.  in  1638. 

Covent  Garden.  A  corruption  of  Convent  Garden,  the 
site  of  which  was  converted  into  a  market,  temp. 
Charles  II.  The  convent  and  garden  belonged  to 
the  Abbey  at  Westminster. 

Coventry.  A  corruption  of  Conventry — i.  e.  Convent  town. 
Before  the  Reformation  it  was  far  famed  for  the 
number  of  its  conventual  establishments.  The  suffix 
try  is  Celtic  for  "dwelling." 

Coventry  Street.  From  the  residence  of  Henry  Coventry, 
Secretary  of  State,  temp.  Charles  II. 

Cowcross  Street.  Where  the  cattle  crossed  the  brook  in 
days  when  this  now  congested  neighbourhood  was 
pleasant  pasture  land  watered  by  the  "  River  of  Wells." 

Coxcomb.  A  vain,  empty-pated  individual.  So  called  from 
the  cock's  comb  worn  on  the  cap  by  the  licensed 
jesters,  because  they  were  allowed  to  crow  over  their 
betters. 

Cracker.  Although  the  origin  of  this  term  when  applied  to 
a  juvenile  firework  would  appear  to  be  self-evident,  it 
is  really  a  corruption  of  Cracque,  the  Norman  descrip- 
tion of  "  Greek  Fire." 

Crackers.  The  people  of  Georgia,  owing,  it  is  said,  to  the 
unintelligibility  of  their  speech. 

Cranbourn  Street.  From  the  long,  narrow  stream  of  this 
name,  when  the  whole  district  hereabouts  was  open 
fields. 

Crank.  One  whose  notions  of  things  are  angular,  eccentric, 
or  crooked.     His  ideas  do  not  run  in  a  straight  line. 

Cravat.  Introduced  into  Western  Europe  by  the  Cravates 
or  Croatians  in  the  seventeenth  century. 


Craven  Street— Cross  Keys        69 

Craven  Street.  From  the  residence  of  Lord  Craven  prior 
to  his  removal  to  Drury  House  in  Drury  Lane. 

Cream  City.  Milwaukee,  from  the  cream-coloured  bricks 
of  which  its  houses  are  built. 

Credit  Draper.     The  modern  designation  of  a  "  Tallyman.' ' 

Cree  Church.     See  "St  Katherine  Cree." 

Creed  Lane.  Where  the  monks  recited  the  Credo  in  pro- 
cession to  St  Paul's.     See  "Ave  Maria  Lane." 

Cremorne  Gardens.  Laid  out  on  the  site  of  the  mansion 
and  grounds  of  Thomas  Dawson,  Lord  Cremorne. 

Creole  State.  Louisiana.  In  New  Orleans  particularly 
a  Creole  is  a  native  of  French  extraction. 

Crescent  City.  New  Orleans,  built  in  the  form  of  a 
crescent. 

Crimea.  From  the  Kimri  or  Cymri  who  settled  in  the 
peninsula. 

Cripplegate.  From  the  city  gate  around  which  gathered 
cripples  begging  for  alms,  the  neighbouring  church 
being  dedicated  to  St  Giles,  their  patron. 

Crokers.  Potatoes,  because  first  raised  in  Croker's  Field 
at  Youghal,  Ireland. 

Cromwell  Road.  From  the  mansion  and  grounds  of 
Richard  Cromwell,  son  of  the  Lord  Protector. 

Crop  Clubs.  Clubs  formed  to  evade  Mr  Pitt's  tax  on  hair 
powder.  The  Times  thus  noticed  one  of  the  earliest 
in  its  issue  of  14th  April  1795  :  "A  numerous  Club 
has  been  formed  in  Lambeth  called  the  '  Crop  Club,' 
every  member  of  which  is  obliged  to  have  his  hair 
docked  as  close  as  the  Duke  of  Bridgewater's  old  bay 
horses.  This  assemblage  is  instituted  for  the  purpose 
of  opposing,  or  rather  evading,  the  tax  on  powdered 
heads." 

Cross  Keys.  A  common  inn  sign  throughout  Yorkshire, 
from  the  arms  of  the  Archbishop  of  York. 


70  Crowd — Cutpurse 

Crowd.  Theatrical  slang  for  members  of  a  company 
collectively. 

Crow  over  him.  A  cock  always  crows  over  a  vanquished 
opponent  in  a  fight. 

Crutched  Friars.  Friars  of  the  Holy  Trinity,  so  called 
from  the  embroidered  cross  on  their  habits  (Latin, 
cruciati,  crossed).  Their  London  house  was  located 
in  the  thoroughfare  named  after  them. 

Cuba.  The  native  name  of  the  island  when  Columbus 
discovered  it. 

Cully.  A  slang  term  applied  to  a  man,  mate,  or  com- 
panion. Its  origin  is  the  Romany  cuddy,  from  the 
Persian  gudda,  an  ass. 

Cumberland.     The  land  of  the  Cymri. 

Cupboard.     See  "Dresser." 

Curacoa.  A  liqueur  first  prepared  at  the  West  Indian  island 
of  the  same  name. 

Currants.     First  brought  from  Corinth. 

Cursitor  Street.  From  the  Cursitors'  Office  that  stood 
here.  The  Cursitors  were  clerks  of  Chancery,  but 
anciently  choristers,  just  as  the  Lord  Chancellor 
himself  was  an  ecclesiastic. 

Curtain  Road.  From  the  "Curtain  Theatre,"  where  Ben 
Jonson's  "Every  Man  in  his  Humour "  was  put  on 
the  stage. 

Curzon  Street.  From  George  Augustus  Curzon,  created 
Viscount  Howe,  the  ground  landlord. 

Cuspidor.  The  American  term  for  a  spittoon,  derived  from 
the  Spanish  escupidor,  a  spitter. 

Cut  me  to  the  Quick.  The  quick  of  one's  fingers  when  cut 
into  is  most  alive  or  sensitive  to  pain.  See  "  Quick- 
silver." 

Cutpurse.  A  thief  who,  in  days  before  pockets  came  into 
vogue,  had  no  difficulty  in  cutting  the  strings  with 
which  a  purse  was  suspended  from  the  girdle. 


Cut  the  Line — Damascus  71 

Cut  the  Line.  A  printer's  expression  for  knocking  off 
work.  Formerly  compositors  finished  the  line  they 
were  composing ;  nowadays  Trades  Unionism  has 
made  them  so  particular  that  they  leave  off  in  the 
middle  of  a  line  on  the  first  stroke  of  the  bell. 

Cypress.  A  tree  introduced  to  Western  Europe  from  the 
island  of  Cyprus. 

Cyprus.  From  kupras,  the  Greek  name  for  a  herb  which 
grew  on  the  island  in  profusion. 

D 

Dachshund.     German  for  "  badger-dog." 

Daffodil.     An  English  corruption  of  the  French  cT  Asphodel. 

Dagonet.  The  pseudonym  of  Mr  George  R.  Sims  in  The 
Referee,  after  the  jester  at  the  Court  of  King  Arthur. 

Daguerreotype.  An  early  process  of  photography  dis- 
covered by  L.  J.  M.  Daguerre. 

Dahlgreen  Gun.     After  its  inventor,  an  officer  in  the  United 

States  Navy. 

Dahlia.  Introduced  to  Europe  from  Mexico  in  1784  by 
Andrew  Dahl,  the  Swedish  botanist. 

Daisy.  From  the  Anglo-Saxon  dceges\eye,  or  "day's  eye," 
on  account  of  its  sunlike  appearance. 

Dakota.     From  the  Dacoits,  a  tribe  of  Indians  found  there. 

Dale  Road.  From  the  residence  of  Canon  Dale,  poet,  and 
Vicar  of  St  Pancras. 

Dalmatian.     A  species  of  dog  bred  in  Dalmatia. 

Dalston.     The  town  in  the  dale  when  the  north  of  London 

was  more  or  less  wooded. 
Damage.     See  "  What's  the  Damage  ?  " 
Damascenes.     From  Damascus,  famous  for  its  plums. 

Damascus.  From  the  Arabic  name  of  the  city,  Dimiskesh- 
Shdm, 


72       Damascus  Blade— Dartmouth 

Damascus  Blade.  From  Damascus,  a  city  world  famous  for 
the  temper  of  its  sword  blades. 

Damask.     First  made  at  Damascus  in  Syria. 

Damask  Rose.     Introduced  to  Europe  from  Damascus. 

Damassin.  A  Damask  cloth  interwoven  with  flowers  of 
gold  or  silver. 

Dame  School.  The  old  name  for  a  girls'  school  taught  by  a 
spinster  or  dame. 

Damsons.     Properly  Damascenes,  from  Damascus. 

Dancing  Chancellor.  Sir  Christopher  Hatton  so  pleased 
Queen  Elizabeth  by  his  dancing  at  a  Court  masque 
that  she  made  him  a  Knight  of  the  Garter;  subse- 
quently he  became  Lord  Chancellor  of  England. 

Dandelion.  A  corruption  of  the  French  dent  de  /ion,  from 
its  fancied  resemblance  to  a  lion's  tooth. 

Dandy.     From  the  French  dandin,  silly  fellow,  ninny. 

Dantzic.     Expresses  the  town  settled  by  the  Danes. 

Danvers  Street.  From  Danvers  House,  in  which  resided 
Sir  John  Danvers,  to  whom  the  introduction  of  the 
Italian  style  of  horticulture  in  England  was  due. 

Darbies.  A  pair  of  handcuffs,  in  allusion  to  Darby  and 
Joan,  who  were  inseparable. 

Dardanelles.  After  the  city  on  the  Asiatic  side  founded  by 
Dardanus,  the  ancestor  of  Priam,  the  last  king  of 
Troy. 

Dark  and  Bloody  Ground.  Kentucky,  the  great  battle- 
ground of  the  Indians  and  white  settlers,  as  also  that 
of  the  savage  tribes  amongst  themselves. 

Darmstadt.     The  stadt,  or  town,  on  the  Darm. 

Dartford.  From  the  Saxon  Darentford,  the  fort  on  the 
Darent. 

Dartmoor.     The  moor  in  which  the  River  Dart  takes  its 

rise. 
Dartmouth,     On  the  estuary  of  the  River  Dart, 


Dauphin— Deadheads  73 

Dauphin.  The  title  borne  by  the  eldest  son  of  the  King  of 
France  until  1830,  from  the  armorial  device  of  a 
delphinus,  or  dolphin. 

Davenport.     After  the  original  maker. 

Da  vies  Street.  After  Mary  Davies,  heiress  of  the  manor  of 
Ebury,  Pimlico. 

Davis  Strait.     After  the  navigator  who  discovered  it. 

Davy  Jones's  Locker.  Properly  "  Duffy  Jonah's  Locker." 
Duffy  is  the  ghost  of  the  West  Indian  Negroes ;  Jonah, 
the  prophet  cast  into  the  sea ;  and  "  locker,"  the  ordinary 
seaman's  chest. 

D.  D.  CeUars.     See  "  Dirty  Dick's." 

Dead  as  a  Door  Nail.  The  reflection  that,  if  a  man  were 
to  be  knocked  on  the  head  as  often  as  is  the  "  nail "  on 
which  a  door  knocker  rests,  he  would  have  very  little 
life  left  in  him,  easily  accounts  for  this  saying. 

Dead  Beat.  Prostrate  from  fatigue,  incapable  of  further 
exertion.  Also  the  name  of  an  American  drink  of 
whisky  and  ginger-soda  after  a  hard  night's  carousal. 

Deadheads.  In  America  persons  who  enjoy  the  right  of 
travelling  on  a  railway  system  at  the  public  expense ; 
in  this  country  actors  and  pseudo  "professionals," 
who  pass  into  places  of  amusement  without  paying. 
The  origin  of  the  term  is  as  follows  : — More  than  sixty 
years  ago  all  the  principal  avenues  of  the  city  of 
Delaware  converged  to  a  toll  gate  at  the  entrance  to  the 
Elmwood  Cemetery  Road.  The  cemetery  having  been 
laid  out  long  prior  to  the  construction  of  the  plank 
road  beyond  the  toll  gate,  funerals  were  allowed  to 
pass  through  the  latter  toll  free.  One  day  as  Dr  Price, 
a  well-known  physician,  stopped  to  pay  his  toll  he 
observed  to  the  gatekeeper  :  "  Considering  the  benevo- 
lent character  of  the  profession  to  which  I  have  the 
honour  to  belong,  I  think  you  ought  to  let  me  pass  toll 
free."  "No,  no,  doctor,"  the  man  replied;  "we  can't 
afford  that.  You  send  too  many  deadheads  through 
here  as  it  is ! "  The  story  travelled,  and  the  term 
"Deadheads"  became  fixed. 


74        Dead  Reckoning — Demijohn 

Dead  Reckoning.  Calculating  a  ship's  whereabouts  at  sea 
from  the  log-book  without  aid  from  the  celestial  bodies. 

Dead  Sea.     Traditionally  on  the  site  of  the  city  of  Sodom. 

Its  waters  are  highly  saline,  and  no   fish  are  found 

in  them. 
Dean  Street.    After  Bishop  Compton,  who,  before  he  became 

Dean  of  the  Savoy  Chapel,  held  the  living  of  St  Anne's, 

Soho. 

Dean's  Yard.  Affords  access  to  the  residence  of  the  Dean 
of  Westminster,  which,  with  the  cloisters,  belonged  to 
the  abbots  prior  to  the  Reformation. 

Death  or  Glory  Men.  The  17th  Lancers,  from  their  badge, 
a  Death's  head  superposed  on  the  words  "  Or  Glory." 

De  Beauvoir  Town.  From  the  manorial  residence  of  the 
De  Beauvoirs. 

Deccan.  From  the  Sanskrit  Dakshina,  the  south,  being  that 
portion  of  Hindustan  south  of  the  Vindhya  Mountains. 

December.  The  tenth  month  of  the  Roman  Calendar 
when  the  year  was  reckoned  from  March. 

Decemvir.  One  of  the  ten  legislators  of  Rome  appointed 
to  draw  up  a  code  of  laws. 

Decoration  Day.  30th  May,  observed  in  the  United  States 
for  decorating  the  graves  of  the  soldiers  who  fell  in  the 
struggle  between  the  North  and  South. 

Deemster.     See  "  Doomster." 

Dehaley  Street.     From  the  residence  of  the  Dehaleys. 

Delaware.  After  the  Governor  of  Virginia,  Thomas 
West,  Lord  Delaware,  who  died  on  board  his  vessel 
while  visiting  the  bay  in  16 10. 

Del  Salviati.  The  assumed  name  of  the  famous  Italian 
painter  Francesco  Rossi,  in  compliment  to  his  patron, 
Cardinal  Salviati,  who  was  born  in  the  same  year  as 
himself. 

Demijohn.  A  corruption  of  Damaghan,  in  Persia,  a  town 
anciently  famous  for  its  glass-ware. 


Democracy — Devil  to  Pay         75 

Democracy.  From  the  Greek  demos,  people,  and  kratein, 
to  rule.     Government  by  the  people. 

Denbigh.     From  Dinbach,  the  Celtic  for  "a  little  fort." 

Denmark.  Properly  Danmark,  the  mark  or  boundary  of 
the  land  of  the  Danes. 

Depot.     The  American  term  for  a  railway  station. 

Deptford.     The  deep  ford  over  the  Ravensbourne. 

Derby.  Saxon  for  "  deer  village."  The  Derby  stakes  at 
Epsom  were  founded  by  Edward  Smith  Stanley,  Earl 
of  Derby,  in  1780. 

Derrick.  The  old  name  for  a  gibbet  and  now  for  a  high 
crane.  So  called  after  a  seventeenth-century  hangman 
at  Tyburn. 

Deny  Down.  The  opening  words  of  the  Druidical  chorus 
as  they  proceeded  to  the  sacred  grove  to  gather 
mistletoe  at  the  winter  solstice.  Derry  is  Celtic  for 
"  grove." 

Dessborough  Place.  From  Dessbrowe  House,  in  which 
resided  the  brother-in-law  of  Oliver  Cromwell. 

Detroit.     French  for  "  strait." 

Deuteronomy.  A  Greek  word  signifying  the  second  giving 
of  the  Law  by  Moses. 

Devereaux  Court.     See  "  Essex  Street." 

Devil's  Sonata.  One  of  Tartini's  most  celebrated  com- 
positions. He  dreamt  that  the  Evil  One  appeared  to 
him  playing  a  sonata  on  the  violin.  At  its  conclusion 
his  visitor  asked:  "  Tartini,  canst  thou  play  this?" 
Awaking  with  his  mind  still  full  of  the  grotesque 
music,  Tartini  played  it  over,  and  then  recorded  it 
permanently  on  paper. 

Devil  to  Pay.  When  money  was  lost  by  unsuccessful 
litigation  it  passed  into  the  hands  of  lawyers,  who  were 
thought  to  spend  it  where  they  spent  much  of  their 
time — viz.  at  the  Devil  Tavern  in  Fleet  Street.  The 
money,  therefore,  went  to  the  Devil. 


76   Devizes — Dine  with  Duke  Humphrey 

Devizes.  From  the  Latin  Devisee^  denoting  the  point  where 
the  old  Roman  road  passed  into  the  district  of  the 
Celts. 

Devon.     After  a  Celtic  tribe,  the  Damnonii. 

Devonshire  House.     The    town    house  of   the   Duke  of 

Devonshire. 
Devonshire    Square.       From    the    mansion    of    William 

Cavendish,  Earl  of  Devonshire,  who  died  here  in  1628. 

Diamond  King.  The  late  Mr  Alfred  Beit,  the  South 
African  financier,  whose  wealth  rivalled  that  of  the 
Rothschilds. 

Dickey.  A  shirt  front,  which  often  has  to  do  duty  for  a 
clean  shirt.  So  called  from  the  German  decken,  to  hide. 

Diddler.  A  schemer,  an  artful  dodger.  After  Jeremy 
Diddler,  the  chief  character  in  the  old  farce,  "Raising 
the  Wind." 

Die  Hards.  The  57th  Foot.  When  the  regiment  was 
surrounded  at  Albuera,  their  Colonel  cried  :  "  Die  hard, 
my  lads ;  die  hard  ! "    And  fighting,  they  died. 

Digger  Indians.  Tribes  of  the  lowest  class  who  live 
principally  upon  roots.  They  have  never  been  known 
to  hunt. 

Diggings.  A  Bohemian  term  for  "lodgings."  Not  from 
the  Californian  gold  diggings,  as  generally  supposed, 
but  from  the  Galena  lead  miners  of  Wisconsin,  who 
called  both  their  mines  and  their  underground  winter 
habitations  "diggings." 

Dime.  A  ten-cent  piece,  from  the  French  dixme,  or  dime, 
tenth — i.e.  of  a  dollar. 

Dimity.     First  brought  from  Damietta,  Egypt. 

Dine  with  Duke  Humphrey.  An  old  saying  of  those  who 
were  fated  to  go  dinnerless.  When  the  "  Good  Duke 
Humphrey,"  son  of  Henry  IV.,  was  buried  at  St 
Albans,  a  monument  to  his  memory  was  to  be 
erected  in  St  Paul's  Cathedral.  At  that  time,  as  for 
long  afterwards,  the  nave  of  our  national  fane  was 


Dining-room  Servant — Dizzy        77 

a  fashionable  promenade.  When  the  promenaders 
left  for  dinner,  others  who  had  no  dinners  to  go  to 
explained  that  they  would  stay  behind  in  order  to 
look  for  the  Good  Duke's  monument. 

Dining-room  Servant.  An  Americanism  for  waiter  or 
male  house  servant. 

Diorama.     See  "  Panorama." 

Dirty  Dick's.  The  noted  tavern  in  Bishopgate,  said  to  have 
been  associated  with  Nathaniel  Bentley,  the  miser, 
who  never  washed  himself.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  Dirty 
Dick  was  an  ironmonger  in  Leadenhall  Street.  After 
his  death  his  effects  were  bought  and  exhibited  at  the 
Bishopgate  tavern,  together  with  his  portrait  as  a 
sign. 

Dirty  Shirts.  The  ioist  Foot,  who  were  hotly  engaged  at 
the  battle  of  Delhi  in  their  shirt  sleeves. 

Dissenters.  Synonymous  with  the  Nonconformists.  Those 
who  dissented  from  the  doctrines  of  the  Church  of 
England  and  those  likewise  who,  at  a  later  period, 
separated  from  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Scotland. 

Distaffs'  Day.  The  old  name  for  7th  January,  when, 
Christmas  being  over  with  Twelfth  Night,  women 
returned  to  their  distaffs  or  spindles. 

Divan.  A  Turkish  word  signifying  a  Council  of  State, 
from  the  fact  that  the  Turkish  Council  Chamber  has 
low  couches  ranged  round  its  walls,  plentifully  supplied 
with  cushions.  The  name  has  been  imported  into 
Western  Europe  specifically  to  imply  a  low-cushioned 
sofa  or  couch. 

Dixie's  Land.  The  Negroes'  paradise  in  slavery  days. 
Dixie  had  a  tract  of  land  on  Manhattan  Island.  He 
treated  his  slaves  well,  but  as  they  increased  sold  many 
of  them  off  to  masters  further  afield.  They  always 
looked  back  to  Dixie's  Land  as  an  ideal  locality, 
associated  with  heaven,  and  when  one  of  them  died 
his  kith  and  kin  said  he  had  gone  to  Dixie's  Land. 

Dizzy.     The   nickname  of  Benjamin  Disraeli,  afterwards 


7%  '     Doctor— Dolly  Shop 

Earl  of  Beaconsfield,  the  great  political  opponent  of 
Mr  Gladstone. 

Doctor.  There  are  three  kinds  of  Doctors — of  Law,  Physic, 
and  Divinity.  The  first  and  the  last  are  essentially 
University  degrees,  with  which  the  vulgar  orders  of  the 
people  have  little  or  no  acquaintance.  They  know 
only  of  one  "Doctor,"  the  medical  practitioner,  and 
since  he  wears  a  frock  coat  and  a  silk  hat  he  is 
entitled  to  all  the  respect  that  they  can  pay  him. 

Doctors'  Commons.  Anciently  a  college  for  Professors  of 
Canon  and  Civil  Law,  who  dined  in  common  on  certain 
days  in  each  term,  similar  to  students  at  the  Inns  of 
Court  before  they  are  called  to  the  Bar. 

Dog  and  Duck.  A  tavern  sign  indicative  of  the  old  sport  of 
duck  hunting  by  spaniels  in  a  pond. 

Dog-cart.  Originally  one  in  which  sportsmen  drove  their 
pointers  and  setters  to  the  field. 

Dog  his  Footsteps.     To  follow  close  to  his  heels  like  a  dog. 

Dog  in  the  Manger.  From  the  old  story  told  of  the  dog 
who  did  not  require  the  hay  for  himself,  yet  refused  to 
allow  the  ox  to  come  near  it. 

Dog  Rose.  From  the  old  idea  that  the  root  of  this  rose-tree 
was  an  antidote  for  the  bite  of  a  mad  dog. 

Dog  Watch.  A  corruption  of  "Dodge  Watch,"  being  a 
watch  of  two  hours  only  instead  of  four,  by  which 
dodging  seamen  gradually  shift  their  watch  on  successive 
days. 

Dolgelley.     Celtic  for  "  dale  of  hazels." 

Dollar.  From  the  German  Thaler,  originally  Joachims- 
Thaler,  the  silver  out  of  which  this  coin  was  struck 
having  been  found  in  the  Thai  or  Valley  of  St  Joachim 
in  Bohemia. 

Dollars  and  Dimes.  An  Americanism  for  money  gener- 
ally.    See  "  Dime." 

Dolly  Shop.     The  old  name  for  a  rag  shop  which  had  a 


Dolly  Varden— Don't  care  a  Dam    79 

black  doll  over  the  door  for  a  sign.  At  one  time  old 
clothes  were  shipped  to  the  Negroes  in  the  southern 
states  of  America. 

Dolly  Varden.  The  name  of  a  flowered  skirt,  answering  to 
the  description  of  that  worn  by  Dolly  Varden  in 
Dickens's  "  Barnaby  Rudge."  This  dress  material 
became  very  popular  after  the  novel  was  published. 
It  also  gave  rise  to  a  song,  of  which  the  burden  was  : 
"  Dressed  in  a  Dolly  Varden." 

Dolphin.  A  gold  coin  introduced  by  Charles  V.  of  France, 
also  Dauphin  of  Vienne. 

Dominica.  Expresses  the  Spanish  for  Sunday,  the  day  on 
which  Columbus  discovered  this  island. 

Dominicans.  Friars  of  the  Order  of  St  Dominic;  also 
called  Black  Friars,  from  their  habits. 

Dominoes.  A  game  invented  by  two  French  monks,  who 
amused  themselves  with  square,  flat  stones  marked 
with  spots.  The  winner  declared  his  victory  by  recit- 
ing the  first  line  of  the  Vesper  service  :  "  Dixit  Dominus 
Domino  Meo."  When,  later,  the  game  became  the  re- 
creation of  the  whole  convent,  the  Vesper  line  was 
abbreviated  into  "  Domino,"  and  the  stones  themselves 
received  the  name  of  "  Dominoes." 

Don.     A  corruption  of  the  Celtic  tain,  river. 

Donatists.  A  sect  of  the  fourth  century,  adherents  of 
Donatus,  Bishop  of  Numidia. 

Doncaster  St  Leger.  The  stakes  at  Doncaster  races 
founded  by  Colonel  Anthony  St  Leger  in  1776. 

Donegal.  Gaelic  for  the  "fortress  of  the  west" — viz. 
Donegal  Castle,  held  by  the  O'Donnels  of  Tyrconnel. 

Donet.  The  old  name  for  a  Grammar,  after  Donatus,  the 
grammarian  and  preceptor  of  St  Jerome. 

Donkey.     An  ass,  from  its  dun  colour. 

Don't  care  a  Dam.  When  this  expression  first  obtained 
currency  a  dam  was  the  smallest  Hindoo  coin,  not 
worth  an  English  farthing. 


80  Don't  care  a  Jot — Douro 

Don't  care  a  Jot.      See  "  Iota." 

Doomster.  The  official  in  the  Scottish  High  Court  who 
pronounced  the  doom  to  the  prisoner,  and  also  acted  as 
executioner.  In  Jersey  and  the  Isle  of  Man  a  judge  is 
styled  a  "  Deemster." 

Dope  Habit.  An  Americanism  for  the  morphia  habit. 
"Dope"  is  the  Chinese  word  for  opium.  This  in  the 
United  States  is  now  applied  to  all  kinds  of  strong 
drugs  or  bromides  prepared  from  opium. 

Dorcas  Society.  From  the  passage  in  Acts  ix.  39:  "And 
all  the  widows  stood  by  him  weeping,  and  showing  the 
coats  and  garments  which  Dorcas  made  while  she  was 
with  them." 

Dorchester.  The  Roman  camp  in  the  district  of  the  Dwr- 
trigs  or  water  dwellers.     See  "  Dorset." 

Dorset.  The  Anglo-Saxon  Dwrset,  or  water  settlement,  so 
called  from  the  British  tribe  the  Dwr-trigs,  "water 
dwellers,"  who  peopled  it. 

Dorset  Square.  After  Viscount  Portman,  the  ground  land- 
lord, who,  before  he  was  raised  to  the  peerage,  was  for 
many  years  Member  for  Dorsetshire. 

Dorset  Street.  From  the  mansion  and  grounds  of  the  Earl 
of  Dorset  of  the  Restoration  period.  Here  stood  also 
the  Dorset  Gardens  Theatre. 

Doss.  Slang  for  a  sleep,  a  shakedown.  From  the  old 
word  dossel,  a  bundle  of  hay  or  straw,  whence  was 
derived  Doss,  a  straw  bed. 

Doss-house.     A  common  lodging-house.     See  "  Doss." 

Douay  Bible.  The  Old  Testament  translation  of  the  Latin 
Vulgate  printed  at  the  English  College  at  Douay, 
France,  in  1609. 

Doublet.  So  called  because  it  was  double  lined  or  wadded, 
originally  for  purposes  of  defence. 

Douglas.      From  its  situation  at  the  juncture  of  the  two 

streams,  the  Dhoo,  black,  and  Glass,  grey. 
Douro.     From  the  Celtic  Dwry  water. 


Dover  House — Drapers'  Gardens    81 

Dover  House.  The  residence  of  the  Hon.  George  Agar 
Ellis,  afterwards  Lord  Dover. 

Dover  Street.  After  Henry  Jermyn,  Lord  Dover,  who  died 
at  his  residence  here  in  1782. 

Dowager.  The  widow  of  a  person  of  high  rank,  because 
she  enjoyed  a  substantial  dower  or  dowry  for  her 
maintenance  during  life. 

Dowgate.  From  the  Celtic  Dwr,  water.  Hence  a  water 
gate  on  the  north  bank  of  the  Thames. 

Downing  Street.  From  the  mansion  of  Sir  George 
Downing,  M.P.,  of  the  Restoration  period. 

Down  with  the  Dust.  A  gold  miner's  expression  in  the 
Far  West,  where  money  is  scarce  and  necessary  com- 
modities are  in  general  bartered  for  with  gold  dust. 

Doyley.  From  the  Brothers  Doyley,  linen  drapers  in  the 
Strand,  who  introduced  this  species  of  table  napery. 

Do  your  Level  Best.  This  expression  means  that,  while 
striving  to  the  utmost  you  must  also  act  strictly 
straightforward. 

Drachenfels.  German  for  "dragon  rocks."  Here  Siegfried, 
the  hero  of  the  Niebelungenlied,  slew  the  dragon. 

Draft  on  Aldgate  Pump.     A  punning  phrase  for  a  worthless 

bill  or  cheque. 
Draggletail.     A  slovenly  woman  who  allows  her  skirts  to 

draggle  or  trail  in  the  mire  of  the  street. 

Dragoman.  From  the  Turkish  drukeman,  an  interpreter. 
A  dragoman  is  in  the  East  what  a  "  Cicerone  is  in 
Italy  and  elsewhere  in  Western  Europe. 

Dragoons.  From  the  ancient  musket  called  a  dragon,  or 
"  spitfire."  The  muzzle  was  embellished  with  a 
representation  of  a  dragon. 

Draper.  One  who  dealt  in  cloth  for  draping  only,  as 
distinct  from  a  mercer,  milliner,  or  mantle-maker. 

Drapers'  Gardens.  The  property  of  the  Drapers'  Company, 
whose  hall  is  situated  here. 

F 


82  Drat  it— Druid 

Drat  it.  A  corruption  of  "  Odd  rot  it,"  from  the  old  oath, 
"  God  rot  them/' 

Drawer.  The  old  name  for  an  inn  or  tavern  keeper's 
assistant,  who  drew  the  beer  from  the  casks. 

Drawing-room.  Originally  "  Withdrawing-room  "  to  which 
the  ladies  withdrew  after  dinner  while  the  gentlemen 
sat  over  their  wine. 

Draw  it  mild.  Originally  a  tavern  phrase,  when  anyone 
preferred  ordinary  ale  to  hot  spiced  liquor. 

Draw  the  Long  Bow.  In  allusion  to  the  exaggerated  skill 
of  the  English  archers  prior  to  the  introduction  of 
gunpowder. 

Dress  Circle.  That  portion  of  a  theatre  which,  before  the 
introduction  of  stalls,  was  set  apart  for  the  superior 
sections  of  the  audience. 

Dressed  up  to  the  Knocker.  To  the  extreme  height  of  his 
resources.  Before  the  establishment  of  the  modern 
police  system  door  knockers  were  placed  as  high  as 
possible  to  prevent  them  from  being  wrenched  off  by 
sportive  wags  after  nightfall. 

Dresser.  The  kitchen  sideboard,  on  which  the  meat  was 
dressed  before  serving  it  up  in  the  dining-chamber. 
The  collection  of  cups,  plates,  and  dishes  which  dis- 
tinguishes a  dresser  originally  had  a  place  on  a  wide 
shelf  or  board  over  this  meat  dresser ;  hence  cup- 
board. 

Drinks  like  a  Fish.  Ready  to  swallow  any  quantity  of 
liquor  that  may  be  offered.  A  great  many  fish  have 
their  mouths  wide  open  whilst  swimming. 

Drive  a  Bargain.  An  expression  meaning  to  knock  down 
the  original  price  asked,  in  punning  allusion  to  "  driv- 
ing" a  nail. 

Drop  o'  the  Crater.     See  "  Mountain  Dew." 

Druid.  In  the  Celtic  Derwydd>  derived  from  dewr,  oak, 
and  gwydd,  knowledge.  A  priest  who  worshipped  and 
offered  sacrifices  under  an  oak. 


Drum — Ducking-Stool  S3 

Drum.  The  name  for  a  fashionable  evening  party  of  bygone 
days,  from  the  noise  made  by  the  card  players. 

Drummers.  An  Americanism  for  commercial  travellers, 
who  are  engaged  in  beating  up  trade. 

Drunkard's  Cloak.  A  large  wooden  crinoline  that  hung 
from  a  drunkard's  neck  to  the  ground,  causing  every 
bone  in  his  body  to  ache  owing  to  the  weight  resting  on 
his  shoulders.  The  instrument  resembled  an  inverted 
flower  pot,  having  a  hole  in  the  top  for  his  head  to  be 
thrust  through.  Under  this  drastic  treatment  he  soon 
became  sober. 

Drunk  as  a  Fiddler.  The  fiddler  was  generally  incapable 
of  discoursing  further  music  half  way  through  the 
night's  jollification,  because  the  dancers  freely  plied 
him  with  drink. 

Drunk  as  a  Lord.  When  George  the  Third  was  King,  and 
long  afterwards,  the  fine  old  English  gentleman  acted 
up  to  his  character  by  using  strong  language  and 
imbibing  strong  potations.  To  be  "  drunk  as  a  lord  " 
was  the  surest  mark  of  gentility,  and  a  "three  bottle 
man  "  a  pattern  of  sobriety.  After  dining  it  was  con- 
sidered no  disgrace  to  roll  helplessly  under  the  table. 

Drury  Lane.  From  Drury  House,  the  residence  of  Sir 
William  Drury,  temp.  William  III. 

Dublin.     From  Dubh-linn,  "  black  pool." 

Dub  Up.  An  expression  derived  from  the  very  general 
custom  of  dubbing  or  touching  a  man  on  the  shoulder 
when  arresting  him  for  debt. 

Ducat.  Duke's  money,  anciently  struck  in  the  Duchy  of 
Apulia,  Sicily. 

Duchess  Street.  After  Lady  Cavendish,  who  became  the 
wife  of  the  second  Duke  of  Portland. 

Ducking  Stool.  An  instrument  for  the  punishment  of 
scolding  wives.  This  public  ducking  in  a  pond 
effectually  served  to  cool  their  temper  for  the  time 
being. 


84      Duck's  Foot  Lane — Dumping 

Duck's  Foot  Lane.  Properly  "Duke's  Foot  Lane,"  the 
footway  leading  from  the  town  house  of  the  Earls  of 
Suffolk  down  to  the  Thames. 

Dude.  An  American  name  for  a  fop,  derived  from  a  very 
old  English  word,  "  dudes,"  whence  we  have  the  slang 
term  "  Duds,"  for  clothes. 

Dudley.  From  the  castle  built  by  Dodo,  a  Saxon  prince, 
and  fey,  "  meadow.' ' 

Duds.     See  "  Dude." 

Dug-out.  A  Far  West  Americanism  for  a  boat  or  canoe 
hewn  out  of  a  large  tree  log. 

Dukeries.  That  portion  of  Nottinghamshire  distinguished 
for  the  number  of  ducal  residences,  of  which  Welbeck 
Abbey  is  perhaps  the  most  admired. 

Duke  Street.  In  Aldgate,  after  the  Dukes  of  Norfolk. 
Near  Smithfield,  the  ancient  property  of  the  Dukes 
of  Brittany.  In  Grosvenor  Square,  after  the  Duke  of 
Cumberland.  Off  Langham  Place,  after  the  Duke 
of  Portland.  Near  Manchester  Square,  after  the  Duke 
of  Manchester.  In  the  Strand,  after  George  Villiers, 
Duke  of  Buckingham. 

Dulwich.  The  corruption  of  Dalewich^  the  village  in  the 
dale. 

Duma.     Russian  for  Parliament  or  popular  representation. 

Dumb  Ox.  One  of  the  sobriquets  of  St  Thomas  Aquinas, 
from  the  silence  with  which  he  pursued  his  studies. 
His  master,  Albertus  Magnus,  however,  predicted  that 
"  this  dumb  ox  will  one  day  fill  the  world  with  his 
bellowing." 

Dumping.  A  word  which  has  come  into  prominence  relative 
to  Mr  Chamberlain's  Fiscal  Policy.  In  various  forms 
the  verb  dump  may  be  met  with  in  Teutonic  and 
Scandinavian  tongues,  meaning  to  "pitch  down," 
"  throw  down  in  a  lump,"  etc.  etc.  A  "  Dump  Cart " 
in  America  is  one  that  tilts  up  in  front,  and  so 
"dumps"  its  load  behind. 


Dun — East  Anglia  85 

Dun.  A  persistent  creditor.  After  Joe  Dun,  a  noted  bailiff, 
who  never  failed  to  bring  a  debtor  to  book.  People 
used  to  say  :  "  Why  don't  you  Dun  him  for  the  debt  ?  " 
meaning  they  would  send  Joe  Dun  to  make  him  pay  or 
arrest  him. 

Dunce.  From  John  Duns  Scotus,  who,  it  is  said,  gave 
no  proof  of  his  remarkable  attainments  in  his  early 
scholastic  days. 

Dundee.  A  corruption  of  Duntay,  the  hill  fort  on  the 
Tay. 

Dunedin.     See  "  Edinburgh." 

Dungeness.  A  corruption  of  Danger  Ness,  the  Headland 
of  Danger. 

Dunkirk.  Expresses  the  "  Church  in  the  Dunes,"  or  sand- 
hills, built  by  St  Eloi  in  the  seventh  century. 

Durham.  A  corruption  of  Dunholm,  from  its  situation  on 
a  hill  surrounded  by  the  river. 

Dusseldorf.     The  village  on  the  Dussel. 

Dutchman.  A  contemptuous  epithet  applied  to  our  phleg- 
matic enemies  during  the  wars  with  Holland. 

Dyers'  Buildings.  The  site  of  an  ancient  almshouse  of  the 
Dyers'  Company. 


Eagle.     An  inn  sign,  the  cognisance  of  Queen  Mary. 

Earl  Street.     After  Charles  Marsham,  Earl  of  Romney. 

Earl's  Court.  From  the  Earl  of  Warwick,  whose  estate  it 
was  until,  by  the  marriage  of  the  Dowager  Countess  of 
Warwick  with  Lord  Holland,  it  passed  into  her 
husband's  family. 

East  Anglia.  A  name  still  popular  as  defining  the  eastern 
counties.  This  was  one  of  the  seven  divisions  or 
petty  kingdoms  of  England  under  the  Angles  or 
Saxons. 


86  Eastcheap — Ecuador 

Eastcheap.     The  eastern  chepe,  or  market,  of  the  city  of 

London. 

Easter.  From  the  Teutonic  Ostara,  goddess  of  light  or 
spring;  rendered  by  the  Anglo-Saxons  Eastre.  This 
great  spring  festival  lasted  eight  days. 

Easter  Island.  The  name  given  to  it  by  Jacob  Roggevin 
when  he  visited  the  island  on  Easter  Sunday,  1722. 

East  Sheen.  A  name  reminiscent  of  the  original  designa- 
tion of  "  Richmond." 

Eat  Dirt.  An  Americanism  for  a  confession  of  penitence 
or  absolute  defeat  in  an  argument. 

Eat  Humble  Pie.  In  the  days  of  sumptuous  banquets  of 
venison  the  lords  of  the  feast  reserved  to  themselves 
the  flesh  of  the  deer.  The  huntsmen  and  retainers 
had  to  be  content  with  the  heart,  liver,  and  entrails, 
collectively  called  the  "umbles,"  which  were  made 
into  monster  pies. 

Eat  my  own  Words.  To  take  them  back  again,  to  retract 
a  statement. 

Eaton  Square.  From  Eaton  Hall,  near  Chester,  the  seat 
of  the  Duke  of  Westminster,  the  ground  landlord. 

Eau  de  Cologne.  A  scent  prepared  at  Cologne.  The 
city  itself  is  not  sweet  to  the  nostrils  ;  it  has  been  said 
that  forty  different  smells  may  be  distinguished  there. 

Eavesdropper.  A  corruption  of  Eavesdripper,  one  who, 
listening  under  the  eaves  of  a  house,  caught  the  drips 
from  the  roof  when  it  chanced  to  be  raining. 

Ebro.  After  the  Iberi%  who  spread  themselves  over  the 
country  from  the  banks  of  this  river.     See  "  Iberia." 

Ebury  Square.  From  the  ancient  manor  of  Eabury  Farm, 
inherited  by  Mary  Davies,  and  which,  by  her  marriage, 
passed  into  the  possession  of  the  Grosvenor  family. 

Eccleston  Square.  From  Eccleston,  Cheshire,  the  country 
seat  of  the  Grosvenors. 

Ecuador.     Expresses  the  Spanish  for  Equator. 


Edgar  Atheling — Eisteddfod        87 

Edgar  Atheling.     Signifies  "  Edgar  of  noble  descent." 

Edinburgh.  The  fortress  or  burgh  built  by  Edwin,  King  of 
Northumbria.     The  Scots  called  it  Dunedin. 

Edinburgh  of  America.  Albany,  in  the  state  of  New  York, 
so  called  on  account  of  its  magnificent  public  buildings 
and  its  commanding  situation. 

Edmonton.     In  Anglo-Saxon  days  Edmund's  Town. 

Edmund  Ironside.  So  called  from  the  suit  of  chain  mail 
that  he  wore.  Notwithstanding  this  protection  he  was 
treacherously  murdered  after  a  reign  of  nine  months 
only. 

Edward  the  Confessor.  The  title  bestowed  upon  the  King 
of  the  Anglo-Saxons  at  his  canonisation,  on  account 
of  his  remarkable  asceticism,  since,  although  he  made 
the  daughter  of  Earl  Godwin  his  queen,  he  denied 
himself  what  are  styled  conjugal  rights. 

Edward  the  Martyr.  Murdered  at  the  instance  of  his 
stepmother  at  Corfe  Castle  after  having  reigned 
scarcely  three  years. 

Eel  Pie  Island.  From  the  invariable  dinner  dish  served 
up  to  river  excursionists. 

Effra  Road.  At  Camberwell,  from  the  little  river  of  the 
same  name,  now  converted  into  a  sewer. 

Egalite\  The  name  assumed  by  Philippe,  Due  d' Orleans, 
the  father  of  Louis  Philippe,  King  of  France,  when, 
siding  with  the  Republican  Party  in  1789,  he  accepted 
their  motto  :  "  Liberty,  Fraternity,  and  Equality."  Four 
years  later  he  met  his  death  by  the  guillotine. 

Ehrenbreitstein.  Expresses  the  German  for  "Honour's 
Broad  Stone."  The  castle  stands  on  a  precipitous 
rock,  which  well  merits  the  description  of  the  "  Gibraltar 
of  the  Rhine." 

Eisteddfod.  Celtic  for  a  gathering  of  Welsh  bards,  from 
eistodd,  to  sit.  As  of  old,  the  annual  " Eisteddfod"  is 
held  for  the  encouragement  of  national  music. 


88  Eldorado— Ely  Place 

Eldorado.  California.  Eldorado  expresses  the  Spanish  for 
'*  golden  region." 

Electic  Philosophers.  Those  who,  agreeably  to  the  Greek 
ek-lego,  to  pick  out,  selected  what  was  best  in  the 
different  schools  or  systems,  and  so  built  up  one  of 
their  own. 

Elephant  and  Castle.  The  famous  landmark  in  South 
London  derived  its  sign  from  the  arms  of  the  Cutlers' 
Company.  A  tavern  in  St  Pancras  parish  took  its  sign 
from  the  skeleton  of  an  elephant,  beside  which  was 
a  flint-headed  spear,  dug  up  in  the  neighbourhood. 
The  connection  between  these  and  the  battle  fought  by 
the  followers  of  Queen  Boadicea  against  the  Roman 
invaders  was  unmistakable. 

Elephant  stepped  on  his  Purse.  An  Americanism  implying 
that  a  creditor  or  some  unlucky  speculation  has 
squeezed  all  the  money  out  of  a  man. 

Elgin  Marbles.  Brought  from  Greece  by  the  seventh 
Earl  of  Elgin.  Acquired  by  the  nation  for  the  British 
Museum  in  1816. 

Elia.  The  pseudonym  of  Charles  Lamb  for  his  "  Essays  " 
contributed  to  The  London  Magazine.  This  was  the 
name  of  a  gay,  light-hearted  foreigner,  who  fluttered 
about  the  South  Sea  House  at  the  time  when  Lamb 
was  a  clerk  there.  At  the  moment  of  penning  his 
signature  to  the  first  essay  he  bethought  himself  of 
that  person,  and  substituted  the  name  of  Elia  for  his 
own. 

Eltham.  Anciently  Ealdham,  "the  old  home."  Here 
Anthony  Bee,  the  "  Battling  Bishop  of  Durham,"  built 
himself  a  palace  midway  in  the  thirteenth  century. 
After  his  death  it  fell  to  the  Crown,  and  became  a 
Royal  residence,  until  the  time  of  James  I.  The 
original  Banqueting-Hall,  used  in  modern  days  as  a 
barn,  may  yet  be  seen. 

Ely  Place.  Marks  the  site  of  the  residence  of  the  Bishops 
of  Ely. 


Ember  Days — Englishman's  House    89 

Ember  Days.  This  term  has  no  connection  with  embers 
or  sackcloth  and  ashes  as  a  penitential  observance. 
The  Saxons  called  them  Ymbrine  dagas,  or  "  running 
days,"  because  they  came  round  at  regular  seasons  of 
the  year. 

Emerald  Isle.  Ireland,  from  its  fresh  verdure,  due  to  its 
shores  being  washed  by  the  warm  waters  of  the  "Gulf 
Stream." 

Empire  Day.  May  24th,  formerly  the  Queen's  Birthday. 
In  the  last  days  of  Victoria  the  British  Empire  was 
consolidated  through  the  assistance  lent  by  the 
Colonies  to  the  Mother  Country  in  the  South  African 
War.  When,  therefore,  King  Edward  VII.  came  to 
the  throne,  the  former  Queen's  Birthday  was  invested 
with  a  greater  significance  than  of  old. 

Empire  State.  New  York,  which,  owing  to  position  and 
commercial  enterprise,  has  no  rival  among  the  other 
states  of  the  Union. 

Empire  State  of  the  South.  Georgia,  in  consequence  of 
its  rapid  industrial  development. 

Ena  Road.  In  honour  of  Princess  Ena,  the  consort  of  the 
young  King  of  Spain. 

Encore.  From  the  Latin  hauc  horam,  till  this  hour,  still, 
again. 

Encyclopaedia.  A  book  containing  general  or  all-round 
instruction  or  information,  from  the  Greek  enkylios, 
circular  or  general,  and  paideia,  instruction.  An 
epitome  of  the  whole  circle  of  learning. 

Endell  Street.  After  the  name  of  the  builder.  This  is 
one  of  the  few  streets  in  London  that  has  preserved  its 
old  characteristics,  steadfastly j  refusing  to  march  with 
the  times. 

England.  In  the  time  of  Alfred  the  Great  our  country  was 
styled  jEnga/and,  or  the  land  of  the  Engles  or  Angles, 
who  came  over  from  Jutland. 

Englishman's  House  is  his  Castle.  By  the  law  of  the  land 
a  bailiff  must  effect  a  peaceable  entrance  in  order  to 


90  Ennis — Erie 

distrain  upon  a  debtor's  goods  ;  therefore  the  latter  is, 
as  it  were,  sufficiently  secure  in  his  own  fortress  if  he 
declines  to  give  the  enemy  admittance. 

Ennis.  Expresses  in  Ireland,  like  fnnis,  the  Celtic  for  an 
island.  Both  these  words  enter  largely  into  Irish  place- 
names. 

Enniskillen.  The  kirk  town  on  an  island,  the  Celtic  ktl, 
originally  implying  a  hermit's  cell,  and  later  a  chapel. 

Ennismore  Place.  After  Viscount  Ennismore,  Earl  of 
Listowel,  the  ground  landlord. 

Enough  is  as  good  as  a  Feast.  Because  at  no  time  can  a 
person  eat  more  than  enough. 

Enrol.     See  "  Roll  Call." 

Entente  Cordiale.  Expresses  the  French  for  cordial  good 
will. 

Entire.  A  word  still  to  be  met  with  on  old  tavern  signs. 
It  meant  different  qualities  of  ale  or  beer  drawn  from 
one  cask. 

Entries.  French  for  entries  or  commencements.  Those 
made  dishes  are  served  after  the  soups,  as  an  intro- 
duction to  the  more  substantial  portions  of  the  repast, 
the  joints. 

Epicure.  After  Epicurus,  a  Greek  philosopher,  who  taught 
that  pleasure  and  good  living  constituted  the  happiness 
of  mankind.     His  followers  were  styled  Epicureans. 

Epiphany.  From  the  Greek  Epiphaneia^  an  appearance,  a 
showing ;  relative  to  the  adoration  of  the  Magi,  who 
came  from  the  East  twelve  days  after  the  birth  of  the 
Saviour. 

Epsom  Salts.     From  the  mineral  springs  at  Epsom. 

Equality  State.  Wyoming,  where,  first  among  the  com- 
munities of  the  world,  women  were  accorded  the  right 
to  vote. 

Erie.  Indian  for  "  Wild  Cat,"  the  fierce  tribe  exterminated 
by  the  Iroquois. 


Escurial — Evacuation  Day         91 

Escurial.  Properly  Escorial,  Spanish  for  "among  the  rocks." 
King  Philip  II.  built  this  superb  convent  and  palace 
after  the  battle  of  St  Quentin,  in  the  course  of  which 
he  had  been  obliged  to  bombard  a  monastery  of  the 
Order  of  St  Jerome.  He  dedicated  it  to  St  Lawrence. 
He  caused  the  structure  to  be  in  the  form  of  a  gridiron, 
the  symbol  of  the  Saint's  martyrdom. 

Esk.     A  river  name  derived  from  the  Celtic  uisg,  water. 

Esquimaux.  An  Alonquin  Indian  term  signifying  "eaters 
of  raw  flesh." 

Essex.  The  kingdom  of  the  East  Saxons  under  the  Hept- 
archy. 

Essex  Street.  From  the  mansion  of  Robert  Devereaux, 
Earl  of  Essex,  the  Parliamentary  General  in  Cromwell's 
time. 

Ethelred  the  Unready.  From  his  incapacity  and  unwilling- 
ness to  accept  rede,  or  counsel. 

Ethiopia.  From  the  Greek  aithein,  to  burn,  and  ops,  the 
face.     Hence  "the  country  of  the  blacks." 

Etiquette.  A  French  word  for  "  label."  Formerly  a  ticket 
or  card  of  instructions  was  handed  to  visitors  on  cere- 
monial occasions.  Nowadays  such  rules  as  pertain  to 
deportment  or  decorum  are  supposed  to  enter  into  the 
education  of  all  well-bred  persons. 

Etna.     From  the  Phoenician  attuna,  a  furnace. 

Eton.     The  Anglo-Saxon  Eyton,  "island  town." 

Ettrick  Shepherd.  The  literary  sobriquet  of  James  Hogg, 
the  poet,  of  Ettrick,  Selkirkshire. 

Europe.  From  the  Greek  euros,  broad,  and  ops,  the  face ; 
literally  "  the  broad  face  of  the  earth." 

Euston  Road.  From  the  seat  of  the  Earl  of  Euston  at 
Thetford,  Norfolk,  the  ground  landlord. 

Evacuation  Day.  November  25  th,  observed  in  the  United 
States  as  commemorating  the  evacuation  of  New  York 
city  by  the  British  after  the  War  of  Independence,  1 783. 


92  Evangelist — Eye-Opener 

Evangelist.  From  the  Greek  euanggelion^  "good  news." 
One  of  the  four  writers  of  the  Gospels  of  the  New 
Testament. 

Evelyn  Street.  From  the  residence  of  John  Evelyn,  the 
diarist.  One  of  his  descendants,  the  Rev.  W.  J.  Evelyn, 
of  Wolton,  built  the  church  of  St  Luke,  Deptford, 
in  1872. 

Everglade  State.  Florida,  from  its  tracts  of  land,  covered 
with  water  and  grass,  called  Everglades. 

Ex.     Another  form  of  the  Celtic  uisg,  water. 

Exchequer.  The  table  of  this  Court  was  formerly  covered 
with  checkered  cloth,  so  called  from  the  Old  French 
eschequier,  chess  board. 

Executive  City.  Washington,  which  contains  the  White 
House,  the  official  residence  of  the  President  of  the 
Republic,  the  House  of  Representatives,  and  the  Senate 
Chamber. 

Exellers.     The  40th  Foot,  from  the  Roman  numerals  XL. 

Exeter.  Called  by  the  Saxons  Exancester^  or  the  Roman 
camp  town  on  the  Exe. 

Exeter  College.  Founded  at  Oxford  by  Walter  Stapleton, 
Bishop  of  Exeter  and  Lord  Treasurer  of  England, 
in  1316. 

Exeter  Street.  From  the  mansion  and  grounds  of  the 
Earl  of  Exeter,  the  eldest  son  of  the  great  Lord 
Burleigh. 

Exhibition  Road.  This  wide  thoroughfare  formed  the 
eastern  boundary  of  the  plot  of  ground  purchased  by 
the  Commissioners  for  the  Great  Exhibition  of  1862. 

Exodus.  The  Scriptural  narrative  of  the  departure  of  the 
Israelites  from  the  Land  of  Bondage. 

Eye.  Expresses  the  Anglo-Saxon  for  island.  The  river 
Waveney  surrounds  the  town. 

Eye-opener.  An  American  drink  of  mixed  spirits  as  a 
remedy  for  drowsiness. 


Face  the  Music — Falernian        93 


Face  the  Music.  To  bear  the  jeers  and  taunts  of  those 
who  laugh  at  us. 

Factory  King.  Richard  Oastler  of  Bradford,  the  promoter 
of  the  "  Ten  Hours'  Bill." 

Fag.  Slang  for  a  cigarette,  derived  from  the  fag  end — i.e. 
fatigued  or  spent  end — of  a  cigar.  Also  a  small  boy 
who  acts  as  a  drudge  in  the  service  of  another  at  a 
public  school,  so  called  from  the  Anglo-Saxon  fcege, 
weak,  timid. 

Fair  Cop.  Thieves'  slang  for  a  smart  capture  by  the 
police.  Whereas  another  would  say  "The  game's 
up  ! "  a  thief  admits  that  he  has  been  fairly  caught  by 
the  expression  " It's  a  fair  cop."     See  "Cop." 

Fair  Maid  of  Kent.  Joan,  the  beautiful  and  only  daughter 
of  the  Earl  of  Kent,  who  became  the  wife  of  Edward 
the  Black  Prince. 

Fair  Street.  A  name  left  us  as  a  reminder  of  a  once 
celebrated  fair  on  the  Southwark  bank  of  the  Thames. 

Faith  Healers.  A  sect  which  upholds  the  doctrine  of  heal- 
ing the  sick  by  prayer  and  anointing  with  oil  in  the 
name  of  the  Lord,  as  set  forth  in  James  v.  13-15. 

Faix.  An  Irishman's  exclamation  for  "  Faith "  or  "  In 
Faith." 

Fake.  To  make-believe  or  cheat.  An  actor  is  said  to 
"  fake  up  "  an  article  of  costume  out  of  very  sorry 
materials,  which  at  a  distance  looks  like  the  real  thing. 
A  photographer  can  "  fake "  a  spirit  photo  by  means 
of  two  distinct  plates.  Food  also  is  largely  "  faked." 
The  word  is  derived  from  "  Fakir." 

Fakir.     From  the  Arabic  fakhar,  poor. 

Falcon  Square.  From  an  ancient  hostelry,  "  The  Castle 
and  Falcon,"  hard  by  in  Aldersgate  Street. 

Falernian.     A  celebrated  wine,  extolled  by  Horace,  Virgil, 


94  Fall — Farthing 

and  other  Latin  authors,  prepared  from  grapes  grown 
in  the  district  of  Falernicum. 

Fall.  An  Americanism  for  autumn,  in  allusion  to  the  fall 
of  the  leaves. 

Fallopian  Tubes.  Said  to  have  been  discovered  by  Gabriel 
Fallopius,  the  eminent  Italian  anatomist  of  the 
sixteenth  century.  They  were,  however,  known  to  the 
ancients. 

Falls  City.  Louisville,  in  the  state  of  Kentucky,  because  it 
overlooks  the  falls  of  the  Ohio  River. 

Falmouth.     A  seaport  at  the  mouth  of  the  Fale. 

Family  Circle.  This  expression  had  a  literal  meaning  in 
the  time  of  the  Normans,  when  the  fire  occupied  the 
centre  of  the  floor,  and  the  smoke  found  its  vent 
through  a  hole  in  the  roof.  In  Germany  and  Russia 
the  domestic  apartments  are  economically  warmed  by 
an  enclosed  stove  in  the  centre.  Amongst  ourselves 
the  phrase  "sit  round  the  fire"  only  conveys  a  half- 
truth. 

Fancy  Drink.  An  Americanism  for  a  concoction  of 
various  spirits,  as  distinguished  from  a  Straight  Drink 
of  one  kind. 

Fandago.     Spanish  for  a  "lively  dance." 

Farmer  George.  George  III.,  on  account  of  his  dress, 
manners,  and  bucolic  sporting  inclinations. 

Farm  Street.  From  an  old  farm,  on  the  land  of  Lord 
Berkeley  of  Stratton  in  the  time  of  Charles  I. 

Faro.  So  called  from  a  representation  of  Pharaoh  on  one 
of  the  cards  originally. 

Farringdon  Road.  After  William  Farrindon,  citizen  and 
goldsmith,  who,  for  the  sum  of  twenty  marks,  in  1279 
purchased  the  Aldermanry  of  the  ward  named  after 
him. 

Farthing.  From  the  Anglo-Saxon  feorthling,  a  little  fourth. 
In  olden  times  penny  pieces  were  nicked  across  like  a 


Farthingale — Feast  of  Tabernacles    95 

Good  Friday  bun ;  so  they  could  be  broken  into  halves 
and  fourths  as  occasion  required. 

Farthingale.  A  corruption  of  Verdingale,  from  the  French 
vertugarde,  a  guard  for  modesty.  Queen  Elizabeth  is 
said  to  have  introduced  this  hooped  petticoat  in  order 
to  disguise  her  figure. 

Farthing  Poet.  The  sobriquet  of  Richard  Home,  who  pub- 
lished his  chief  poem,  "  Orion,"  at  one  farthing,  so  that 
it  should  not  want  for  buyers. 

Fastern's  E'en.  The  Scottish  description  of  Shrove 
Tuesday,  being  the  eve  of  the  Lenten  Fast. 

Father  of  Believers.  Mohammed,  because  he  established 
and  promulgated  the  faith  of  the  Moslem,  or  "true 
believers." 

Father  of  the  Music  Halls.  The  late  William  Morton, 
manager  of  the  Palace  Theatre  of  Varieties,  and 
founder  of  the  earliest  London  Music  Hall,  "The 
Canterbury,"  in  the  Westminster  Bridge  Road,  which 
dates  from  the  year  1848. 

Fathers  of  the  Church.  The  great  doctors  or  theological 
writers  of  the  period  from  the  first  to  the  seventh 
centuries  of  Christianity.     See  "Apostolic  Fathers." 

Faugh-a-Ballagh  Boys.  The  87th  Foot,  from  their  battle 
cry. 

Feast  of  Lanterns.  A  Chinese  festival  which  occurs  on 
the  fifteenth  day  of  the  first  moon  of  the  year.  Walk- 
ing by  the  side  of  a  beautiful  lake  one  night  the 
daughter  of  a  mandarin  fell  in,  and  was  drowned. 
When  her  father  heard  of  the  accident  he,  attended 
by  all  his  household,  carrying  lanterns,  rushed  to  the 
spot.  On  the  anniversary  he  caused  fires  to  be  lighted 
beside  the  lake,  and  invited  all  the  people  of  the 
country  round  about  to  offer  up  prayers  for  the  safety 
of  her  soul.  In  course  of  time  the  solemn  character 
of  the  gathering  was  forgotten,  and  the  day  has  ever 
since  been  observed  as  a  national  holiday. 

Feast  of  Tabernacles.     Commemorative  of  the  forty  years' 


96    Feather  in  my  Cap — Fetter  Lane 

wandering  of  the  Israelites  in  search  of  the  Promised 
Land,  during  which  long  period  they  dwelt  in  temporary 
huts  or  tabernacles,  formed  of  tree  branches  covered 
with  leaves.  Even  at  the  present  day  the  Jews  at 
least  take  their  meals  in  temporary  structures  covered 
with  leaves  throughout  the  nine  days  of  the  festival. 

Feather  in  my  Cap.  An  expression  derived  from  a  custom 
of  the  North  American  Indians,  who  stuck  a  fresh 
feather  in  their  head-dress  for  every  one  of  their 
enemies  slain  in  battle. 

Feathers.  An  inn  sign  originally,  when  the  painted  device 
appeared  in  place  of  the  mere  name,  signifying  the 
"  Plume  of  Feathers,"  or  "  Prince  of  Wales's  Feathers," 
the  crest  of  Edward  the  Black  Prince. 

February.  From  the  Latin  februare,  to  purify,  this  being 
the  month  appointed  by  the  Romans  for  the  festival 
of  the  Februalia  of  purification  and  expiation. 

Federal  States.  During  the  American  Civil  War  the 
Treaty  States  of  the  North,  which  resisted  the  Separatist 
or  Confederate  States  in  the  South. 

Feel  Peckish.     See  "  Keep  your  Pecker  up." 

Fellah.  Arabic  for  agriculturist  or  peasant.  In  the 
plural,  "  El  Fellahin,"  the  term  is  specifically  applied 
to  the  labouring  population  of  Egypt. 

Fenchurch  Street.  From  an  ancient  church  in  the  fens  or 
marshy  ground  through  which  ran  the  Lang  Bourne 
from  Beach  Lane  to  the  Wall  brook  behind  the  Stocks 
Market,  where  the  Mansion  House  now  stands. 

Fenians.  Said  to  express  the  Gaelic  for  "hunters,"  but 
the  greater  likelihood  is  that  this  secret  society  took  the 
name  of  the  Finna  Eirinii,.axi  ancient  organisation  of 
Irish  militia,  so  called  after  Fion  MacCumhal,  the 
hero  of  legendary  history. 

Fetter  Lane.  A  corruption  of  "  Fewters  Lane,"  from  the 
Norman-French  faitoar,  an  evil-doer,  on  account  of  the 
idle  vagabonds  who  infested  it  in  days  when  this  lane 
led  to  some  pleasure  gardens. 


Feuilleton — Filibuster  97 

Feuilleton.  Expresses  the  French  for  a  small  leaf.  Like 
the  serial  stories  nowadays  in  many  English  newspapers, 
articles  of  a  non-political  character  were  introduced  in 
the  French  Journal  des  Debates  as  long  ago  as  the 
commencement  of  the  nineteenth  century,  these  being 
separated  from  the  news  by  a  line  towards  the  bottom 
of  each  page. 

Fez.  From  Fez  in  Morocco,  whence  this  red  cap  of  the 
Turks  was  introduced  into  the  Ottoman  Empire. 

F.  F.  V.  Initials  well  understood  in  America,  implying 
the  "  First  Families  of  Virginia." 

Fiddler's  Money.  A  threepenny  piece.  Originally  it  was 
a  small  coin  paid  by  each  of  the  dancers  to  the  fiddler 
at  a  merry-making. 

Fifth  Monarchy  Men.  Religious  fanatics  of  the  time  of 
Charles  I.  who  proclaimed  the  second  coming  of  Christ 
to  establish  the  fifth  monarchy,  or  millennium.  The 
four  previous  great  monarchies  of  the  world  were  the 
Assyrian,  Persian,  Macedonian,  and  Roman. 

Fifty  Club.  A  social  club  founded  in  1899  by  G.  C. 
Paterson,  incidentally  for  the  entertainment  of  its 
members  on  the  attainment  of  their  fiftieth  birthday. 

Fighting  Fifth.  The  5th  Foot,  on  account  of  their  prowess 
during  the  Peninsular  War. 

Fighting  Fitzgerald.  George  Robert  Fitzgerald,  a  noted 
gamester  and  duellist  of  the  eighteenth  century,  with 
whom  no  one  ever  picked  a  quarrel  without  falling  by 
his  hand.  A  sure  shot  and  an  expert  swordsman,  he 
was  a  man  to  be  feared  by  all. 

Fight  Shy.  Originally  a  prize-fighting  expression,  when  one 
of  the  combatants  betrayed  a  lack  of  courage. 

Filberts.  After  St  Philibert,  on  whose  feast  day,  22nd 
August,  the  nutting  season  commenced. 

Filibuster.  A  Spanish  and  French  corruption  of  the 
German  freibeter,  derived  from  the  Dutch  vlie-boot^  or 
fly-boat,  a  small  clipper  vessel.     This  was  introduced 

G 


98      Finality  John — First  Gentleman 

into  England  during  the  wars  with  the  Low  Countries. 
The  word  Freebooter  claims  the  same  origin. 

Finality  John.  The  sobriquet  of  John  Russell,  afterwards 
Earl  Russell,  from  his  conviction  that  the  passing  of  the 
Reform  Bill  of  1832  would  be  a  finality  to  the  universal 
Suffrage  Question. 

Finch  Lane.  Properly  Finke  Lane,  after  Sir  Richard 
Finke,  who  resided  in  it,  and  rebuilt  the  church  of  St 
Bennet  on  the  site  of  the  present  Royal  Exchange.  A 
tradesman  in  Cheapside  rejoices  in  the  possession  of 
the  full  name  of  this  vanished  church,  St  Bennet-Finke. 

Fingal's  Cave.  That  of  Fion  MacCumhal,  abbreviated  into 
Fingal,  a  celebrated  legendary  hero. 

Finland.  Properly  FenZand,  the  land  of  lakes  and  marshes. 
The  native  name  of  the  country  is  Suomesimaa^  the 
watered  land  of  the  Suomes. 

Finsbury.  From  the  Anglo-Saxon  Fensbury,  the  town 
among  the  fens  or  marshes. 

Finsbury  Pavement.  The  first  London  thoroughfare  where 
the  paving  of  the  side  walk  with  flagstones  was  in- 
troduced. 

Fire  dogs.  These  adjuncts  to  an  old-fashioned  fireplace 
received  their  name  from  the  small  dog  that  was 
anciently  imprisoned  in  a  wheel  at  one  end  of  the  spit. 
Three  hours  of  this  canine  exercise  were  required  to 
prepare  the  roast  beef  of  Old  England  for  the  table. 
If  the  dog  refused  to  exert  himself  a  live  coal  was  put 
inside  the  wheel  to  accelerate  his  movements. 

Fire  Water.  The  North  American  Indian  designation  of 
rum,  and  ardent  spirits  generally. 

Fire  Worshippers.  The  Parsees,  who  worship  the  sun  as  the 
symbol  of  the  Deity. 

First  Gentleman  of  Europe.  The  complimentary 
sobriquet  of  George  IV.,  owing  to  his  rank,  personal 
attractions,  and  the  ability,  as  became  a  gentleman  of 
the  period,  of  telling  good  stories  well. 


Firth  of  Forth — Fleet  Road        99 

Firth  of  Forth.  Firth  expresses  the  Gaelic  for  an  estuary 
or  arm  of  the  sea.     Forth  is  the  name  of  the  river. 

Fish  Street  Hill.  From  the  fishmongers  who  first  con- 
gregated here  in  the  reign  of  Edward  I.  The  Hall 
of  the  Fishmongers'  Company  stands  at  the  foot  of 
London  Bridge. 

Fit-up.  In  theatrical  parlance  the  entire  appurtenances  of  a 
stage,  excepting  the  floor  only,  carried  from  town  to 
town,  and  fitted  up  in  Town  Halls,  Assembly-rooms, 
and  Corn  Exchanges. 

Fitzroy  Square.  .  From  one  of  the  family  names  of  the 
ground  landlord. 

Fives.  An  old  game  at  ball,  usually  played  by  five  on  each 
side.  The  "  court "  consists  of  a  roomy  space  with  a 
high  wall  at  one  end. 

Fixings.  An  Americanism  for  dress  ornaments  or  acces- 
sories; house,  hotel,  or  theatre  embellishments  and 
decorations  generally. 

Flamingo.     From   the   bright   red  colour  of  this  tropical 

bird. 
Flanders.     From  the  native  name   Vlandergau,  the  country 

of  the  Vlander,  who  from  the  earliest  period  of  their 

history  were  ruled  by  counts. 

Flannelled  Fools.  An  opprobrious  epithet  bestowed  upon 
the  English  people  on  account  of  their  all-pervading 
sport  of  cricket  by  Rudyard  Kipling.  It  gave  rise  to 
much  acrimony  at  the  time,  and  tended  to  lessen  his 
popularity  as  a  writer. 

Flash  Jewellery.  Spurious,  not  what  it  pretends  to  be. 
Like  a  flash  of  fire,  its  brilliance  is  only  fleeting. 

Flask  Walk.  In  this  pleasant  lane  stands  the  old  hostelry 
"The  Flash." 

Fleet  Road.  All  that  is  left  us  to  remind  one  of  the  clear 
stream  which  coursed  through  the  meadows  down  to 
Holborn  (the  Old  Bourne)  and  Clerkenwell,  emptying 
itself  into  the  Thames  in  what  is  now  Bridge  Street, 
Blackfriars. 


ioo  Fleet  Street— Flunkey 

Fleet  Street.  The  River  Fleet,  which  in  old  days  was 
navigable  from  the  Thames  as  far  as  what  is  now 
Ludgate  Circus.  The  old  English  word  Fleot  expressed 
a  tidal  stream  deep  enough  for  vessels  to  float  in. 

Fleetwood  Road.  Here  stood  Fleetwood  House,  the 
residence  of  Charles  Fleetwood,  the  Parliamentary 
General. 

Fleshly  School  of  Poetry.  That  of  the  sensuous  order, 
popularised  by  Dante  Gabriel  Rossetti,  Swinburne,  and 
Morris. 

Flint.  From  the  flint  or  quartz  which  abounds  in  this 
country. 

Floralia.  A  Roman  festival  in  honour  of  Flora,  commenc- 
ing 28th  April  and  terminating  2nd  May.  It  was  said 
to  have  been  instituted  at  the  command  of  an  oracle 
with  a  view  of  obtaining  from  the  goddess  the  pro- 
tection of  blossoms. 

Florence.     Expresses  "  The  City  of  Flowers." 

Florida.  Named  by  Ponce  de  Leon  from  the  twofold  cir- 
cumstance of  his  landing  upon  it  on  Pascua  Florida^  or 
Easter  Sunday,  and  the  luxuriance  of  its  vegetation. 

Florin.  A  silver  coin  of  the  value  of  two  shillings,  originally 
struck  at  Florence.  It  still  bears  on  its  reverse  side 
a  representation  of  a  lily,  symbolical  of  "  The  City  of 
Flowers." 

Flower  Sermon.  An  annual  observance  at  the  Church  of 
St  Katherine  Cree,  Leadenhall  Street,  inaugurated  by 
the  rector,  the  Rev.  Dr  Whittemore,  in  1853.  The 
flowers  of  the  earth  form  the  text ;  the  pulpit  is  richly 
adorned  with  flowers ;  and  every  member  of  the  congre- 
gation brings  a  bouquet.  The  idea  of  the  flower 
service,  if  not  the  sermon,  has  been  largely  copied  in 
various  parts  of  the  country. 

Flunkey.  From  the  French  flanquer,  the  henchman  or 
groom  who  ran  at  the  flank  or  side  of  his  mounted 
master. 


Fly— Forecastle  101 

Fly.  Provincial  for  a  hansom  cab.  When  one  looks  at 
such  a  hackney  carriage  it  suggests  a  sedan-chair 
on  wheels.  Such  a  vehicle,  introduced  at  Brighton 
for  invalids,  was  a  great  favourite  with  George  IV. 
when  Prince  of  Wales,  who  often  requisitioned  it  for  a 
night  frolic.  Called  by  him  on  account  of  its  lightness 
a  "fly-by-night,"  its  name  became  abbreviated  into  a 
"fly." 

Fly  Posting.  A  showman's  phrase  for  small  bills  posted 
hurriedly  in  all  possible  conspicuous  places  under 
cover  of  night. 

Fly-up-the-Creeks.  The  people  of  Florida,  who  were  wont 
to  disappear  on  the-approach  of  strangers. 

F.  M.  Allen.  The  pseudonym  of  Mr  Edward  Downey  at 
the  time  when  he  was  also  a  publisher.  F.  M.  Allen 
was  his  wife's  maiden  name. 

Foley  Street.     After  the  town  house  of  Lord  Foley. 

Fontagne.  A  wire  structure  for  raising  the  hair  of  ladies, 
introduced  by  the  Duchesse  de  Fontagne,  one  of  the 
mistresses  of  Louis  XIV.  of  France. 

Fontinalia.  Roman  festivals  in  honour  of  the  nymphs  of 
wells  and  fountains.  It  was  from  these  that  the 
English  and  French  custom  of  "Well  Dressing"  in 
the  month  of  May  found  its  origin. 

Foolscap.  A  size  of  paper  which  from  time  immemorial 
has  had  for  its  watermark  a  fool's  cap  and  bells. 

Footpad.  Originally  a  thief  or  highway  robber  who  wore 
padded  shoes. 

Fop.  From  the  German  and  Dutch  foJ>J>en,  to  jeer  at,  make 
a  fool  of.  This  word  must  be  very  old,  since  Vanbrugh 
gave  the  name  of  Lord  Foppington  to  a  conceited 
coxcomb  in  this  comedy  "The  Relapse,"  1697. 

Forecastle.  The  quarters  apportioned  to  the  seamen  in  the 
fore  end  of  a  vessel.  Anciently  the  whole  forward 
portion  bore  the  name  of  Aforecastle  on  account  of 
"  The  Castle  "  or  State  Cabin  erected  in  a  castle-like 
form  in  the  centre. 


ic*    Forefathers'  Day — Four  Hundred 

Forefathers'  Day.  December  21st,  commemorated  in  the 
New  England  States  on  account  of  the  landing  of  the 
Pilgrim  Fathers  in  1620. 

Forest  City.  Cleveland  (Ohio)  and  Portland  (Maine),  on 
account  of  the  trees  which  characterise  their  beautiful 
avenues. 

Forest  Gate.  The  district  which  in  modern  times  has 
sprung  up  south  of  the  old  gate  leading  into  Epping 
Forest.  A  representation  of  the  gate  appears  on  the 
curtain  of  the  local  public  hall,  or,  as  it  is  now  styled, 
"The  Grand  Theatre." 

Forest  Hill.  A  name  reminiscent  of  days  when  this  portion 
of  South  London  as  far  as  Croydon  was  forest  land. 

Fore  Street.  The  street  in  front  of  the  London  Wall,  the 
Barbican  or  watch-tower,  and  Cripple  Gate. 

Forget-me-not.  A  flower  emblematical  of  friendship  or  a 
keepsake.  The  story  goes  that  a  German  knight, 
walking  on  the  banks  of  the  Danube  with  his  lady, 
undertook,  at  her  request,  to  gather  a  tuft  of  Mysotis 
palustris,  growing  in  the  water.  Encumbered  by  his 
armour,  he  was  carried  away  by  the  stream,  and  sank, 
after  having  thrown  the  flowers  to  his  mistress,  exclaim- 
ing :  "  Verges s  mein  nicht !  " 

Forlorn  Hope.  From  the  German  verloren,  lost.  A 
company  of  soldiers  ordered  upon  such  a  perilous 
enterprise,  that  there  is  small  hope  of  their  return. 

Formosa.     A  Portuguese  word  signifying  "  beautiful." 

Fortino.  A  clipped  phrase  in  several  of  the  states  of 
North  America,  from  "  For  aught  I  know." 

Foster  Lane.  From  the  Church  of  St  Vedast,  the  name 
of  a  Bishop  of  Arras.  How  Vedast  came  to  be 
Anglicised  into  Foster  is  not  explained. 

Foul-weather  Jack.  Commodore  John  Byron,  the  circum- 
navigator of  the  eighteenth  century.  Whenever  he 
put  out  to  sea  he  was  sure  to  experience  foul  weather. 

Four  Hundred.  The  Select  or  "  Smart "  Society  of  New 
York  city. 


Fourteen  Hundred — Freak  Dinner    103 

Fourteen  Hundred.  The  cry  raised  when  a  stranger  is 
discovered  in  the  Stock  Exchange,  whereupon  he  is 
immediately  hustled  out.  This  had  its  origin  in  the 
circumstance  that  for  a  great  many  years  the  recog- 
nised full  membership  on  'Change  was  1399. 

Fourth  Estate.  The  Press.  Edward  Burke  referred  to 
the  Reporters'  Gallery  as  more  powerful  than  the 
three  great  estates  of  the  realm — viz.  the  Lords 
Spiritual,  the  Lords  Temporal,  and  the  Commons. 

Fox  in  the  Hole.  An  inn  or  tavern  sign  contiguous  to  the 
hunting  field. 

Frame  House.  The  American  term  for  a  house  built  of 
timber.  Chinatown,  or  the  Chinese  quarter  of  the 
city  of  San  Francisco,  was  entirely  constructed  of 
"frame  houses." 

Franc.     A  silver  coin  of  Franconia  or  France. 

France.  Anciently  Franconia,  the  country  of  the  Franks, 
so  called  from  the  franca,  a  kind  of  javelin  with  which 
they  armed  themselves  when  this  people  effected  the 
conquest  of  Gaul. 

Franciscans.  Friars  of  the..Qrder  of  St  Francis  of  Assisi. 
Originally  the  Grey  Friars,  their  habits  are  now  brown. 
One  of  the  rules  laid  down  by  their  pious  founder  was 
that  the  brethren  should  always  be  clad  like  the  poorest 
of  the  poor.  He  selected  the  loose  sack  of  grey,  undyed 
wool,  bound  round  the  waist  by  a  cord  of  the  Umbrian 
Shepherds.  Towards  the  close  of  the  fifteenth  century 
the  better  classes  affected  gaudy  colours,  and  the 
poorer  orders,  imitating  them  so  far  as  the  use  of  dyed 
materials  was  concerned,  took  to  wearing  garments  of 
sober  brown.  Hence  the  change  in  the  colour  of  the 
Franciscan  habit. 

Frankincense.  Incense  brought  to  the  East  from  "Fran- 
conia." 

Freak  Dinner.  A  latter-day  term,  arising  out  of  the 
examples  set  by  American  millionaires  to  outdo  all 
previous  attempts  in  the  way  of  sumptuous  banquets, 


1 04  Freebooter — Freemasons 

There  have  been  dinners  costing  ;£ioo  per  head.  To 
please  the  eye,  champagne  has  been  made  to  flow 
wastefully  from  a  fountain.  The  name  is,  however, 
more  correctly  applied  to  the  scenic  embellishments, 
as  when  the  banqueting-chamber  of  the  Gaiety 
Restaurant  was  converted  into  a  South  African  mining 
tent,  and  real  Kaffirs  were  the  waiters,  to  remind  the 
diners  of  the  mode  by  which  they  had  acquired  their 
wealth. 

Freebooter.     See  "Filibuster." 

Free  Church  of  Scotland.  The  adherents  of  Dr  Chalmers, 
who  separated  from  the  Scottish  Presbyterian  Church 
to  establish  an  independent  community,  18th  May 
1843. 

Free  House.  A  public-house,of  which  the  landlord,  being 
his  own  master,  is  at  full  liberty  to  change  his  brewer 
if  the  quality  of  the  liquor  supplied  to  him  does  not 
give  complete  satisfaction.     See  "  Tied  House." 

Free-lance.  An  unattached  journalist  who  sends  out  his 
literary  wares  on  approval.  The  term  has  been  derived 
from  those  roving  companies  of  knights  who,  at  the 
close  of  the  Wars  of  the  Crusades,  were  ready  to  enlist 
under  any  banner  for  a  monetary  consideration.  Like 
the  mercenaries  of  the  Carthaginians  and  Romans, 
these  were  the  first  paid  soldiers. 

Free  List.  A  list  kept  by  theatrical  managers  of  Men 
about  Town,  barristers,  medical  men,  and  others,  who 
can  be  relied  upon  to  "dress  the  house"  at  short 
notice  when  business  is  bad,  and  so  give  it  an  air  of 
prosperity.  These  are  not  "  Deadheads "  in  the 
ordinary  sense,  because  they  render  the  management  a 
service;  but  being  well  able  to  pay  for  seats  at  all 
times  they  are  apt  to  be  obnoxious  in  their  demands 
when  the  entertainment  really  draws  good  houses. 
Hence  the  notice  "  Free  list  entirely  suspended  "  at 
such  times. 

Freemasons.  A  brotherhood  of  masons  who  in  the 
Mediaeval  Ages  built  the  cathedrals  which  are  even 


Freeze  on  to  him — Frobisher  Strait     105 

now  lasting  mementoes  of  their  skill.  They  travelled 
from  one  city  to  another,  always  employed  in  the 
same  devoted  work,  and,  to  prove  that  they  were 
master  craftsmen,  invented  various  symbols,  by  which 
they  could  be  recognised.  Everywhere  these  masons 
enjoyed  immunity  from  taxation  and  military  service. 
Hence  they  received  the  name  of  "free-masons." 

Freeze  on  to  him.  To  cling  to  a  man  as  hoarfrost  clings 
to  wood  in  winter. 

Freight  Train.     An  Americanism  for  goods  train. 

Freshman.  An  undergraduate  in  his  first  year  at  a 
university. 

Friar.  Agreeably  to  the  Latin  fratre,  brother.  This  term 
signifies  a  member  of  a  religious  community  as  dis- 
tinguished from  a  monk  (Greek,  monas,  alone),  who 
was  originally  a  hermit,  and,  except  when  at  meals  or 
at  prayers  in  the  monastery,  spends  his  time  in  a  cell. 

Friar  Street.  Marks  the  eastern  boundary  of  the  monastery 
of  the  Dominicans  or  Black  Friars  anciently  located 
south  of  Ludgate  Hill. 

Friar  Tuck.  So  called  because,  like  that  of  all  friars,  his 
habit  was  tucked  or  drawn  up  round  the  cord  that 
encircled  his  waist. 

Friday.  In  the  Scandinavian  mythology  this  day  of  the 
week  was  set  apart  for  the  worship  of  Frigga,  the  wife 
of  Odin. 

Friday  Street.  The  fish  market  of  Old  London,  so  called 
from  the  weekly  fast  day,  when  it  must  have  been 
particularly  thronged. 

Friendly  Islands.  So  called  by  Captain  Cook  on  account 
of  the  peaceable  disposition  of  the  natives. 

Friesland.     Anciently  Friesia,  the  country  of  the  Frisii. 

Frisco.     An  American  abbreviation  of  San  Francisco. 

Frith  Street.  Originally  Fryth  Street,  after  the  name  of 
the  builder  upon  the  land  in  1680. 

Frobisher  Strait.   Discovered  by  Sir  Martin  Frobisher,  1576. 


106  Frognal— Gaffer 

Frognal.  That  portion  of  Hampstead  once  graced  by 
Frognal  Priory,  built  by  "  Memory-Corner  Thompson." 

From  Pillar  to  Post.  This  had  reference  in  olden  times  to 
the  hooting  crowds  who  followed  a  public  offender 
from  the  pillory  to  the  whipping-post.  The  "post," 
however,  was  more  usually  a  "cart's  tail." 

Fuchsia.  After  Leonard  Fuchs,  the  distinguished  German 
botanist. 

Fudge.  A  word  derived  from  the  sound  produced  by 
the  nasal  expression  of  contempt,  futsch  I  among  the 
Germans  and  Dutch. 

Fulham.  The  Fullenhame  of  Anglo-Saxon  days,  expressing 
the  home  or  habitation  of  water-fowl. 

Funeral.  Specifically  a  torchlight  procession,  from  the 
Latin  /urn's,  a  torch.  In  ancient  times  burials  always 
took  place  by  night. 

Furnival  Street.  A  name  left  to  remind  us  of  Furnival's 
Inn,  on  the  opposite  side  of  Holborn,  and  where 
Charles  Dickens  wrote  his  "  Pickwick  Papers." 
Anciently  this  was  the  "  Inn  "  or  town  mansion  of  the 
Lords  Furnival,  a  title  which  became  extinct  in  the 
reign  of  Richard  II. 

Fusiliers.  Because  originally  armed  with  a  light  musket 
styled  a  fusil. 

Fye  Foot  Lane.  A  corruption  of  Five  Foot  Lane,  the 
width  of  this  narrow  thoroughfare  when  it  led  down 
to  the  Thames  side. 


Gad-about.      The  word  "Gad"  is   Gaelic,  signifying  "to 

rove." 
Gaelic.     See  "  Caledonia." 
Gaff.     See"  Penny  Gaff." 

Gaffer.      Provincial  for    an   old    man;    a    corruption    of 
"grandfather." 


Gag — Garden  Town  107 

Gag.  An  actor's  interpolation  of  catch  phrases  at  his  own 
sweet  will.  Originally,  however,  gagging  was  a  device 
to  disconcert  or  stop  the  mouth  of  another  actor  by 
the  unexpected  employment  of  words  not  in  the  text 
of  the  play. 

Gallivanting.  An  old  English  word  for  "doing  the  agree- 
able." Its  derivation  is  clearly  traceable  to  "gallant" 
and  "  gallantry." 

Galoshes.  From  the  Spanish  galocha^  a  patten  or  wooden 
shoe. 

Galvanism.  After  Luigi  Galvani,  the  eminent  physician  of 
Bologna  in  the  eighteenth  century,  the  discoverer  of 
electrical  currents  produced  by  chemical  agency. 

Gamboge.     Brought  from  Cambogia  in  Siam. 

Gamp.  After  Mrs  Gamp  in  "  Martin  Chuzzlewit,"  who 
never  went  abroad  without  her  fat,  pawky  umbrella, 
and  when  at  home  gave  it  an  honoured  position  by 
the  side  of  the  fireplace.  Charles  Dickens  must  have 
had  the  town  of  Guingamp  in  his  mind  when  he  in- 
vented Mrs  Gamp.     See  "Gingham." 

Gander  Party.  An  Americanism  for  a  social  party  com- 
posed of  men  only. 

Ganges.  The  sacred  river  of  the  Hindoos,  thought  by 
them  to  flow  through  Gang,  the  earth,  to  heaven.  The 
name  they  gave  to  it,  therefore,  was  Ganga. 

Garden  of  England.  The  Isle  of  Wight.  The  mildness  of 
the  climate  and  the  luxuriance  of  the  vegetation  be- 
speak a  perpetual  summer. 

Garden  Spot.  The  fertile  centre  of  Kentucky,  whence  the 
Indians,  after  many  a  sanguinary  encounter,  were 
banished  by  the  white  settlers. 

Garden  State.     New  Jersey,  from  the  fertility  of  its  soil. 

Garden  Town.  The  name  bestowed  upon  both  Cheltenham 
and  Leamington  in  virtue  of  their  spas,  public  gardens, 
and  promenades  tastefully  laid  out. 


108    Gargantuan— Gave  him  a  Roland 

Gargantuan.  Anything  out  of  all  reasonable  limits.  We 
speak  of  a  "Gargantuan  Feast,"  a  "  Gargantuan  Thirst," 
to  express  a  capacity  for  enormous  consumption.  The 
word  is  derived  from  Gargantua,  the  hero  of  Rabelais's 
famous  satire  of  this  title. 

Garlick  Hill.  Where  garlic  was  anciently  brought  to  land 
at  Queenhithe. 

Garrick  Street.  From  the  Garrick  Club,  the  premier 
rendezvous  of  the  leading  members  of  the  dramatic 
profession. 

Garrotters.  Street  marauders  of  the  latter  part  of  the  last 
century  who  gripped  their  victim  tightly  round  the 
neck  while  accomplices  rifled  his  pockets.  Their 
designation  was  derived  from  the  Garrotte,  with  which 
malefactors  are  strangled  in  Spain. 

Gas  Bag.  An  Americanism  for  one  who  is  always  boasting 
of  his  own  importance. 

Gasconade.  To  boast.  The  people  of  Gascony  had  an 
unenviable  reputation  for  boasting. 

Gate.  This  old  English  word  does  not  in  all  cases  express 
a  city  gate,  as  in  London,  but  a  road,  street,  or  passage 
— e.g.  Canongate,  the  way  past  the  House  of  the 
Canons  of  Holyrood  Abbey  at  Edinburgh ;  Lowgate, 
Whitefriargate,  etc.,  at  Hull;  Harrowgate,  the  passage 
through  the  hills ;  and  Boulogne  Gate,  or  entrance  to 
Boulogne  Harbour. 

Gatling  Gun.     Named  after  R.  J.  Gatling,  its  inventor. 

Gaul.  The  Gallia  of  the  Romans,  from  the  Celtic  name 
of  the  country,  Gal,  "  western." 

Gave  him  a  Baker's  Dozen.  As  much  as  he  merited,  and 
one  blow  over  as  a  finishing  stroke.  A  drubbing  that 
he  little  expected. 

Gave  him  a  Roland  for  an  Oliver.  Exactly  what  he  gave 
me  himself;  a  tit  for  tat.  Roland  and  Oliver  were 
two  knights  in  the  train  of  Charlemagne.  Both  were 
equally  accomplished;  what  the  one  did  the  other 
essayed  also  with  success.     In  the  matter  of  fighting 


Gave  Cold  Shoulder — Gentleman     109 

too  they  were  exactly  on  a  par,  since,  after  having 
been  put  to  the  test  in  single  combat,  for  a  long  time 
neither  of  them  gained  the  least  advantage. 

Gave  him  the  Cold  Shoulder.  Received  him  with  scant 
ceremony.  The  allusion  is  to  the  fare  generally  set 
before  an  unexpected  visitor  who  has  not  dined. 

Gave  him  the  Grand  Shake.  An  Americanism  for  finally 
breaking  off  an  acquaintance. 

Gavelkind.  A  custom  among  the  Anglo-Saxons  whereby 
all  the  sons  of  a  family  inherited  alike.  Lord  Coke 
traces  it  from  the  Teutonic  gif  eal  cyn,  and  translates 
it  literally  "  give  all  kinde."  Inheritance  by  Gavelkind 
obtained  in  Kent  long  after  the  Norman  Conquest; 
indeed,  it  is  said  that  some  Kentish  lands  are  still  held 
by  this  ancient  tenure. 

Gavotte.  A  dance  familiar  to  the  Gavots  in  the  French 
province  of  Dauphiny. 

Gay  Lothario.  A  seducer.  From  the  leading  character 
in  Nicholas  Rowe's  "The  Fair  Penitent,"  produced 
in  1703. 

Gazette.  From  the  Italian  Gazzetta,  the  name  of  a 
Venetian  coin  valued  at  about  f  d.  of  English  money, 
which  was  charged  for  the  individual  reading,  from 
hand-to-hand,  of  a  written  sheet  at  Venice  containing 
news  of  the  war  with  Soliman  II.,  temp,  sixteenth 
century. 

Geneva  Gown.  The  habit  of  Low  Churchmen,  so  called 
from  its  resemblance  to  the  gown  worn  by  the  Calvinists 
of  Geneva. 

Genre  Painting.  One  on  a  pastoral  subject,  with  figures, 
that  does  not  properly  come  under  the  definition  of  a 
landscape.     The  word  is  French  for  a  kind,  a  sort. 

Gentleman  in  Black.  A  chimney-sweep,  who,  like  a 
clergyman,  was  formerly  saluted  out  of  respect  for 
"the  cloth." 

Gentleman   Jack.     John  Bannister,  a  favourite  actor  of 


1 10    Gentleman  Smith — Gerrymandering 

Drury  Lane  Theatre,  respected  by  all  for  his  integrity 
even  more  than  for  his  histrionic  accomplishments. 

Gentleman  Smith.  William  Smith  of  Drury  Lane,  the 
beau  ideal  of  a  gentleman  on  the  stage. 

Gentleman  Turkey.  The  Far  Western  description  of  a 
turkey  cock. 

George.  An  inn  sign  in  honour  of  the  patron  saint  of 
England.  After  the  Hanoverian  Succession,  by  which 
time  pictorial  signs  had  for  the  most  part  disappeared, 
and  the  name  alone  stood  for  a  sign,  the  omission  of 
the  "  St  "  made  the  sign  complimentary  to  the  reigning 
monarch.  Reading  of  the  execution  of  Charles  I.,  we 
are  told  that  the  ill-fated  King  handed  his  "  George  " 
to  Juxon,  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  who  attended 
him  on  the  scaffold.  This  was  the  badge  of  the  Order 
of  the  Garter,  representing  St  George  on  horseback 
piercing  the  fallen  dragon  with  his  lance. 

George  and  Dragon.     See  "  George." 

George  Ranger.  H.R.H.  the  Duke  of  Cambridge,  who  was 
appointed  Ranger  of  the  Royal  Parks. 

Georges  Sand.  This  literary  pseudonym  of  Mademoiselle 
Dupin,  afterwards  Madame  Dudevant,  arose  out  of  her 
attachment  to  a  young  student  named  Jules  Sandeau, 
with  whom  she  collaborated  in  the  production  of  her 
first  novel,  "  Rose  et  Blanche." 

Georgia.  In  compliment  to  George  II.,  the  reigning 
monarch  when  this  state  was  colonised. 

German  Silver.     See  "Sterling  Silver." 

Germany.  Called  by  the  Romans  Germama,  from  a 
Gaulish  or  Celtic  word  meaning  "  neighbours." 

Gerrard  Street.  After  the  family  name  of  the  Earl  of 
Macclesfield,  the  ground  landlord,  when  it  was  first 
built  upon  at  the  close  of  the  seventeenth  century. 

Gerrymandering.  An  American  political  term  for  sub- 
dividing a  constituency  in  such  a  way  as  to  give  one 
party  an  unfair  advantage  over  all  others.     Its  adoption 


Get  there  all  the  same — Giaour      1 1 1 

was  due  to  Elbridge  Gerry,  Governor  of  Massachusetts. 
When  a  map  of  this  new  electoral  distribution  was 
shown  to  an  artist  he  remarked  that  it  looked  very 
much  like  a  salamander.  "A  salamander,  you  say? 
Why  not  a  Gerrymander !  "  was  the  reply.  And  a 
Gerrymander  the  name  of  the  scheme  remained. 

Get  there  all  the  same.  An  Americanism  meaning  to 
succeed  in  any  enterprise,  despite  all  obstacles  or 
opposition. 

Ghost.  One  employed  by  an  author  or  an  artist  to  do  his 
work  for  him,  so  called  because,  his  name  and  per- 
sonality being  withheld  from  the  public,  he  is  kept  in 
the  shade.  In  other  words,  he  is  a  mere  shadow  of  his 
master.  Originally,  however,  the  term  had  reference 
to  the  friend  who  had  inspired  or  suggested  the  work. 

Ghost  walking.  A  theatrical  phrase.  Actors  assembling 
at  the  theatre  for  their  weekly  salaries  generally  put 
the  question  among  themselves  :  "  Is  the  ghost  walk- 
ing?" While  those  about  to  accept  an  engagement 
with  a  manager  of  whom  they  know  nothing  ask  : 
"Does  the  ghost  walk?"  Its  origin  is  as  follows: — 
Many  years  ago  a  manager  of  the  Bogus  type  had  in 
his  company  a  self-willed  actor  whose  strong  part  was 
the  Ghost  in  "Hamlet."  If  his  salary  was  not  forth- 
coming on  a  Saturday  morning  he  exclaimed  :  "  Then 
the  ghost  won't  walk  to-night."  Indispensable  actor 
as  he  was,  the  manager  invariably  acceded  to  his 
demands.  Sometimes  it  happened  that  he  received 
only  a  portion  of  his  salary,  with  a  promise  of  the 
remainder  in  the  course  of  the  performance,  in  which 
case  he  refused  to  go  on  until  the  money  was  actually 
paid.  It  is  said  that  the  other  members  of  the 
company  would  wait  on  a  Saturday  morning  about  the 
time  for  ' ■  Treasury  "  until  they  received  word  by  a 
messenger  that  the  ghost  would  walk. 

Giaour.  From  the  Arabic  kiafir,  "unbeliever."  The  Turks 
bestow  this  name  on  all  European  Christians,  enemies 
of  the  Mohammedan  faith.     Readers  of  Lord  Byron's 


ii2  Gibberish — Gimnal  Ring 

poem  "  The  Giaour  "  may  require  to  be  informed   of 
its  meaning. 

Gibberish.  After  Geber,  an  Arabian  alchemist  of  the 
eleventh  century,  who  employed  an  unintelligible 
jargon  to  mystify  the  ecclesiastics,  lest  by  plain  speak- 
ing he  might  be  put  to  death  as  a  sorcerer. 

Gibraltar.  From  the  Arabic  designation,  fe6e/-a/-Tarik,  the 
Mountain  of  Tarik,  in  honour  of  Ben  Zeyad  Tarik, 
a  Moorish  General,  to  whose  prowess  the  conquest  of 
Spain  in  the  eighth  century  was  due. 

Gibraltar  of  America.  The  city  of  Quebec,  from  its  com- 
manding and  impregnable  position  on  the  heights. 

Gibson  Girl.  A  new  type  of  womanhood  popularised  in 
America  by  the  drawings  of  Charles  Dana  Gibson, 
and  introduced  to  London  by  Miss  Camille  Clifford. 

Gibus.     An  opera  or  crush  hat,  so  called  after  its  inventor. 

Gift  of  the  Gab.  "  Gab "  is  a  very  old  word ;  it  was 
used  by  the  Anglo-Saxons  for  speech.  The  Scots 
employed  it  to  describe  the  mouth;  hence  to 
"gabble."  The  French  had  it  too  in  the  forms  of 
"gaber,"  to  boast  or  talk  wildly. 

Gig.  A  term  claiming  the  same  origin  as  "Jig" — i.e.  the 
French  gigue,  a  lively  dance  —  because  this  vehicle 
moves  lightly. 

Gilbertines.  An  English  religious  Order  of  the  twelfth 
century,  founded  by  St  Gilbert  of  Sempringham, 
Lincolnshire. 

Gilly  flower.  A  corruption  of  July  flower,  from  the  month 
when  it  blossoms. 

Giltspur  Street.  Said  to  have  received  its  name  from  the 
gilt  spurs  of  the  knights  riding  to  the  tournaments 
in  Smithfield.  The  greater  probability  is  that  the 
makers  of  gilt  spurs  congregated  in  this  street. 

Gimnal  Ring.  A  love  token  of  bygone  days,  so  called 
from  the  Latin  gemellus,  joined.  This  ring  was 
composed   of  two  separate  bands   fitted  into  each 


Gin — Give  him  Beans  113 

other  with  little  teeth.  When  lovers  were  betrothed 
it  was  divided,  only  to  be  put  together  again  at  the 
nuptial  ceremony. 
Gin.  Short  for  Geneva.  Not  after  Geneva  in  Switzerland, 
because  this  is  the  national  spirituous  drink  of  the 
Dutch,  called  at  first  by  them  giniva,  from  the  French 
genievre,  juniper.  Juniper  berries  were  originally 
employed  to  flavour  the  spirit  distilled  from  unmalted 
rye.  The  native  name  for  Dutch  gin  is  now  Schiedam, 
after  the  town  where  it  is  made.  Dutch  gin  brought 
to  England  is  called  Hollands. 

Ginger.  Red-haired  people  are  said  to  be  ginger  because 
Guinevre,  the  Queen  at  the  Court  of  King  Arthur, 
had  red  hair. 

Gingham.  A  corruption  of  Guingamp  in  Brittany,  where 
the  cotton  stuff  brought  from  Java,  there  called 
gingang,  was  dyed  and  made  into  umbrella  covers 
before  silk  and  alpaca  came  into  use  for  this  purpose. 
Hence  the  slang  term  for  an  umbrella.    See  "  Gamp." 

Gin  Sling.  An  American  drink  composed  of  equal  parts 
of  gin  and  water.     See  "Sling." 

Gipsies.  A  corruption  of  Egyptians,  because,  when  first 
heard  of  in  Europe,  they  spread  themselves  over 
Bohemia,  and  were  thought  to  have  arrived  there  by 
way  of  Egypt. 

Giraldus  Cambrensis.  The  Latinised  pen  name  of  Gerald 
de  Barri,  Archbishop  of  St  David's,  and  historian  of 
Cambria  or  Wales. 

Girasole.  The  Italian  name  of  the  sunflower,  from  the 
Latin  gyara,  to  turn,  and  sol,  the  sun. 

Girondists.  Deputies  from  the  Department  of  the  Gironde 
who  formed  the  Moderate  Republican  Party  in  the 
French  Revolution. 

Girton  Girl.     A  student  of  Girton  College,  Cambridge. 

Give  him  Beans.  An  expression  derived  from  a  French 
proverb  :  "  If  he  gives  me  peas  I  will  give  him  beans" 
— i.e.  I  will  be  quits  with  him. 


ii4  Give  him  plenty  of  Rope — Gloucester 

Give  him  plenty  of  Rope.  Let  him  do  just  what  he  thinks 
is  best,  and  everything  will  come  out  right  in  the  end. 
Following  in  your  train,  and,  metaphorically,  attached 
to  your  rope,  the  longer  the  rope  the  wider  will  be  the 
sweep  he  can  command ;  he  can  always  be  pulled  in 
when  it  becomes  necessary  to  check  his  movements. 

Given  Name.  An  Americanism  for  a  Christian  or  fore- 
name. 

Gives  himself  Airs.  One  who  assumes  a  manner  out  of 
keeping  with  his  social  position.  "  Air  "  was  formerly 
synonymous  with  deportment. 

Give  up  the  Ghost.     Literally  to  yield  up  the  Spirit. 

Gladiator.  From  the  Latin  g/adius,  a  sword.  A  slave 
trained  to  defend  himself  with  a  short  sword  in  the 
mortal  combats  of  the  Roman  arena  for  the  amuse- 
ment of  the  Emperors  and  the  populace. 

Glad  Rags.  An  Americanism  for  holiday  clothes  or  festive 
garments. 

Gladstone  Bag.  So  called  in  compliment  to  Mr  W.  E. 
Gladstone  when,  as  leader  of  the  Liberal  Government, 
his  name  was  "  familiar  in  men's  mouths  as  household 
words." 

Glamorgan.  From  Gwlad-Margam^  "  the  territory  of  Mar- 
gam,"  a  Welsh  chieftain  of  the  tenth  century.  His 
name  is  correctly  preserved  in  Margam  Abbey. 

Glenlivet.  Whisky  distilled  in  the  Vale  of  Glenlivet  in 
Banffshire. 

Globe.  An  inn  sign,  the  name  of  which  was  derived  from 
the  arms  of  the  King  of  Portugal. 

Globe  Trotter.     A  tourist,  a  traveller  in  foreign  lands. 

Glorious  Fourth  of  July.  Another  name  for  "  Independ- 
ence Day." 

Gloucester.  The  Gloicastra  of  the  Romans,  in  honour  of 
Gloi,  son  of  the  Emperor  Claudius,  who  was  born  here. 


Gloucester  Road— Go  Marooning    115 

Gloucester  Road.  From  Oxford  Lodge,  the  one-time  resi- 
dence of  the  Duchess  of  Gloucester. 

Go  ahead.  From  the  nautical  phrase  "The  wind's  ahead  " 
— i.e.  blowing  from  the  stern  towards  the  vessel's  head. 

Goat  and  Compasses.     A  corruption  of  the  Puritan  motto 

"  God  encompass  us." 
Goatee.     An  Americanism   for  the   typical  Yankee   chin 

tuft,  in  allusion  to  the  beard  of  a  goat. 

Gobelin  Tapestry.  Made  under  royal  patronage  in  the 
house  originally  occupied  by  Jean  Gobelin,  a  wool 
dyer  in  Paris,  temp,  seventeenth  century. 

God  help  you.  Anciently  an  invocation  on  behalf  of  a 
person  subjected  to  the  Ordeal  of  Fire. 

Godstone.  A  corruption  of  "  Good  Stone,"  relative  to  the 
excellence  of  the  stone  quarried  here. 

Goggles.     Shaded  spectacles,  so  called  in  allusion  to  gig 

lamps. 
Go  in  for  Banting.     See  "  Banting." 

Gold  Coast.  The  coast  of  Guinea,  West  Africa,  where 
gold  was  found. 

Golden  Cross.  The  device  of  the  Crusaders,  extensively 
adopted  as  an  inn  sign. 

Golden  Gate.  The  entrance  to  San  Francisco  Harbour. 
This  name  had  been  bestowed  upon  it  by  the  Spaniards 
centuries  before  the  outbreak  of  the  gold  fever  in  1847, 
from  their  own  knowledge  that  this  was  the  gate  to 
the  Land  of  Gold. 

Golden  Lane.  A  corruption  of  "Golding  Lane,"  after  the 
builder. 

Golden  Square.  Properly  "  Gelding  Square,"  from  an  old 
inn  of  this  name. 

Go  Marooning.  A  southern  state  American  expression 
for  a  picnicking  party  on  the  shore  or  up  country  which 
is  to  last  for  several  days.     See  "Maroons." 


n6    Gone  over — Gone  up  the  Country 

Gone  over  to  the  Majority.  A  Parliamentary  phrase 
equally,  if  more  generally,  applied  to  one  who  has 
passed  from  the  scene  of  his  life's  labours  to  the  spirit 
world.  Ancient  and  modern  authors  contain  passages 
in  the  latter  connection.  The  Rev.  Robert  Blair  in 
"The  Grave"  says:  "'Tis  long  since  Death  had  the 
majority." 

Gone  to  Pot.  Vanished  possessions.  The  reference  is 
to  the  metalliferous  melting  pot. 

Gone  to  Rack  and  Ruin.  A  corruption  of  "  wreck  and 
ruin." 

Gone  to  Texas.  An  American  expression  for  one  who  has 
decamped  leaving  debts  behind  him.  It  was  (and  is) 
no  unusual  thing  for  a  man  to  display  this  notice, 
perhaps  only  the  initials  "  G.T.T. "  on  his  door  for 
the  information  of  callers  after  he  has  absconded. 

Gone  to  the  Devil.  From  the  twofold  circumstance  that 
money  lost  through  lawyers  would  surely  be  spent  by 
them  at  their  regular  resort,  the  celebrated  "Devil 
Tavern,"  hard  by  Temple  Bar,  and  the  not  unusual 
answer  tendered  by  a  subordinate  to  a  caller  at  a 
place  of  business  in  Fleet  Street  that  his  master  had 
"gone  to  the  'Devil.'" 

Gone  to  the  Dogs.  Money  that  has  been  squandered 
uselessly,  as  the  remains  of  a  feast  in  Eastern 
countries  are  thrown  to  the  dogs  instead  of  being 
given  to  the  poor.  A  vicious  man  is  said  to  have 
gone  to  the  dogs  because  in  the  East  social  outcasts 
are  often  worried  by  ravenous  dogs  that  prowl  about 
the  streets  by  night. 

Gone  under.  One  who  has  sunk  in  the  social  scale ;  never 
recovered  from  financial  embarrassments ;  who  found  it 
impossible  to  "keep  his  head  above  water."  The 
allusion  is,  of  course,  to  drowning. 

Gone  up  the  Country.  An  expression  implying  that  a 
person  is  insolvent;  originally  introduced  into 
England  from  the  Colonies.     When  a  man  could  not 


Gong  Punch— Good  Wine        117 

make   ends   meet   in   the  coast  cities   he   went  pro- 
specting up  the  country. 

Gong  Punch.  The  American  term  for  the  bell  ticket  punch 
used  by  conductors  on  tramcars. 

Gonville  College.  The  original  name  of  Caius  College, 
Cambridge,  founded  by  Edmund  Gonville  in  1348. 

Good  enough  Morgan.  An  American  phrase  for  an  im- 
position, or  any  person  or  thing  likely  to  pass  muster 
for  the  reality.  This  originated  during  the  Anti- 
Masonic  riots  in  the  state  of  New  York,  when  it  was 
alleged  that  the  Freemasons  had  drowned  a  man  called 
Morgan  for  having  betrayed  their  secrets.  A  body 
was  actually  found  in  the  river  near  near  Fort  Niagara, 
and  identified  by  Morgan's  wife  chiefly  on  account 
of  a  missing  tooth.  It  was,  however,  proved  that 
the  whole  story  had  been  trumped  up  for  political 
ends.  A  prominent  politician  who  had  a  hand  in  the 
affair  indeed  confessed  that,  when  reminded  that  the 
body  would  never  pass  for  Morgan's,  he  declared  :  "  It's 
a  good  enough  Morgan."     Hence  the  phrase. 

Goodge  Street.     After  the  name  of  the  builder. 

Goodman's  Fields.  After  the  owner  of  the  lands  upon 
a  portion  of  whose  farm  the  Prioresses  or  Nuns  of  St 
Clare  built  their  priory.  This  name  recurs  in  the  "  Life 
of  David  Garrick,"  who  established  his  fame  at  the  old 
Goodman's  Fields  Theatre  before  he  migrated  to 
Drury  Lane. 

Good  Old  Town  of  Hull.  A  name  originally  bestowed  upon 
the  "Third  Port"  by  tramps  and  beggars,  who,  in 
common  with  the  deserving  poor,  fared  exceeding 
well  out  of  the  bounty  of  the  Dominican  and  Carmelite 
Friars.  The  streets  Blackfriargate  and  Whitefriargate 
fix  the  locality  of  these  conventual  establishments. 

Good  Time.  An  Americanism  for  a  very  pleasurable  or 
festive  time.     See  "  High  Time." 

Good  Wine  needs  no  Bush.  An  ivy  bush  was  in  former 
times  displayed  at  the  end  of  a  stake  wherever  wine 


n8         Goodwin  Sands — Gotham 

was  sold,  the  ivy  being  sacred  to  Bacchus.  Travellers 
who  had  once  tasted  good  wine  took  careful  stock 
of  the  place  before  leaving  it;  consequently  they 
needed  no  bush  to  direct  them  when  next  they  visited 
the  neighbourhood. 

Goodwin  Sands.  At  the  time  of  the  Norman  Conquest 
this  comprised  the  estate  of  Earl  Godwin,  from  whom 
it  was  filched  and  bestowed  upon  the  Abbey  of  St 
Augustine  at  Canterbury.  Neglect  of  the  repair  of  the 
sea-wall  caused  the  waves  to  rush  in  and  overwhelm  the 
land. 

Go  off  the  Handle.  To  lose  one's  head  or  go  insane.  The 
allusion  is  to  the  head  of  an  axe  flying  off  the  handle. 

Go  one  better.  Originally  a  sporting  expression,  meaning 
that  by  jumping  farther  a  contestant  would  make  a 
scratch  on  the  ground  beyond  the  one  just  scored. 

Goose.  The  tailor's  smoothing  iron,  from  the  resemblance 
of  its  handle  to  the  neck  of  a  goose. 

Gooseberry.  A  corruption  of  Gorseberry,  rough  or  coarse, 
on  account  of  the  hairs  or  diminutive  prickles  which 
distinguish  this  berry. 

Gordon  Hotels.  Established  by  the  late  Frederick  Gordon, 
a  solicitor  of  Bloomsbury.  These  middle-class  hotels 
have  supplied  a  long-felt  want  in  London  and  else- 
where. 

Gordon  Square.  In  compliment  to  Lady  Georgina  Gordon, 
wife  of  the  sixth  Duke  of  Bedford,  the  ground  landlord. 

Gospel.     From  the  Anglo-Saxon  God-spell,  "  good  news." 

Gospel  Oak.  From  the  oak-tree  marking  the  juncture  of 
St  Pancras  and  Hampstead  parishes,  beneath  which 
the  Gospel  was  annually  read. 

Goswell  Road.  From  an  ancient  spring,  styled  "God's 
Well,"  discovered  in  this  neighbourhood. 

Gotham.  The  city  of  New  York.  Washington  Irving  first 
gave  it  this  name  in  his  "  Salmagundi."  Its  people  in 
his  time  were  anything  but  fools,  yet  he  may  not  have 


Go  the  whole  Hog — Go  to  Bath       1 19 

appreciated  the  singular  wisdom  attributed  to  them. 
By  referring  to  the  city  as  Gotham  he  made  a  playful 
allusion  to  Gotham  in  Nottinghamshire,  England, 
which  for  centuries  had  merited  a  reputation  for  being 
a  town  whose  inhabitants  did  and  said  the  most  foolish 
things. 

Go  the  whole  Hog.  An  expression  derived  from  Cowper's 
poem  entitled  "  Of  the  Love  of  the  World  reproved," 
in  which  he  discusses  the  eating  of  pork  by  the 
Turks  : 

"  But  for  one  piece  they  thought  it  hard 
From  the  whole  hog  to  be  debarred." 

Got  my  Back  up.  In  allusion  to  cats,  which  set  up  their 
backs  on  being  confronted  by  their  own  species  or  by 
a  ferocious  dog. 

Got  my  Dander  up.  The  word  dander  here  is  a  corrup- 
tion of  dandruff,  which,  though  it  means  only  the  scurf 
on  the  head,  has  come  to  be  curiously  applied  to  the 
hair  itself;  as  when  the  fur  of  enraged  animals  is 
raised. 

Got  the  Bullet.  Suddenly  discharged  from  one's  occupa- 
tion ;  "  fired  out,"  as  it  were. 

Got  the  Push.  Ousted  from  one's  place  of  employment. 
Metaphorically  to  have  been  pushed  off  the  premises. 

Got  the  Sack.  An  expression  derived  from  the  sack  in 
which  mechanics  and  artisans  generally  carried  their 
own  tools.  When  engaged  to  work  the  tools  were 
assigned  to  a  proper  place  in  the  workshop,  while  the 
master  took  possession  of  the  sack.  On  discharging 
his  men  he  returned  them  the  sack. 

Go  to.  An  Old  English  expression  which  leaves  something 
to  the  imagination.  Originally  it  must  have  implied  a 
place  where  there  is  much  caloric.  In  its  popular 
acceptation  it  meant  simply  "  Get  along  with  you  ! " 

Go  to  Bath.  An  expression  signifying  that  a  person 
is  talking  nonsense.  When  the  west  of  England 
was  the   fashionable   health   resort  silly  and  slightly 


1 20     Go  to  Bungay — Gracechurch  Street 

demented  folk  were  recommended  to  "Go  to  Bath, 
and  get  your  head  shaved." 

Go  to  Bungay.  The  curt  answer  received  by  persons  who 
asked  where  they  could  get  the  once  fashionable  leather 
breeches.  Bungay,  in  Suffolk,  was  the  only  place 
where  they  were  made.  This  expression  travelled 
over  to  New  England  with  the  first  emigrants,  and  is 
still  common  in  that  portion  of  the  United  States. 

Go  to  Jericho.  Jericho  was  the  name  given  by  Henry  VIII. 
to  the  Manor  of  Blackmore,  near  Chelmsford,  whither 
he  often  retired  quite  suddenly  from  affairs  of  State. 
At  such  times  his  courtiers  suspected  some  fresh  freak 
of  gallantry,  and  said  he  had  "  gone  to  Jericho."  More- 
over, when  in  a  testy  mood,  his  Queen  would  tell  him 
to  "  go  to  Jericho  ! " 

Go  to  Putney.  A  very  old  expression,  tantamount  to  con- 
signing a  person  beyond  the  pale  of  London  society  or 
civilisation. 

Got  out  of  Bed  the  wrong  Way.  From  the  old  super- 
stition that  planting  the  left  foot  on  the  ground  first 
on  rising  in  the  morning  was  a  harbinger  of  ill  luck 
for  the  day. 

Government  Stock.  The  origin  of  the  word  Stock  is  inter- 
esting. Down  to  the  year  1782,  when  the  practice 
was  abolished,  public  money  invested  in  Government 
securities  was  acknowledged  on  the  two  opposite  ends 
of  a  piece  of  wood  called  a  stock,  from  the  Anglo- 
Saxon  stocc,  a  trunk.  The  stock  was  then  cut  in  two, 
one  portion  being  handed  to  the  investor  and  the 
other  consigned  to  the  Tally  Office. 

Gower  Street.  After  the  name  of  the  builder  on  this  por- 
tion of  the  Bedford  estate. 

Gowk.  The  Scottish  equivalent  for  an  "April  Fool," 
signifying  a  foolish  person. 

Gracechurch  Street.  From  the  herb  market  anciently  held 
around  the  Church  of  St  Benet,  called  the  Grass 
Church.     This   edifice  has    in   modern   times   been 


Gramercy— Grass  Widow         121 

pulled  down,  and  the  money  realised  for  the  site  de- 
voted to  the  erection  of  a  new  St  Benet's  in  the  Mile 
End  Road. 
Gramercy.  From  grand  merci^  "great  thanks,"  a  phrase 
introduced  when  French  was  the  language  of  the 
Court. 

Granby  Street.  In  honour  of  John  Manners,  Marquis  of 
Granby,  whose  name  is  also  perpetuated  by  many  a 
tavern  sign. 

Grand  Hotel.  Not  in  the  sense  of  magnificence,  but  true 
to  the  French  meaning  of  the  word  "  great " ;  hence 
Grand  Theatre,  the  Grand  Tour,  and  the  Grand  Canal 
at  Venice. 

Grand  Old  Man.  The  name  applied  by  Mr  Labouchere  to 
Mr  W.  E.  Gladstone  on  the  occasion  of  Mr  Bradlaugh's 
expulsion  from  the  House  after  his  election  for  Nor- 
thampton because  he  refused  to  take  the  oath  in  the 
prescribed  manner.  Referring  to  a  conversation  in 
the  tea-room  Mr  Labouchere  said :  "I  told  some 
friends  that  before  I  left  Mr  Gladstone  came  to  me, 
and  that  grand  old  man,  with  tears  in  his  eyes,  took 
me  by  the  hands,  and  said  :  '  Mr  Labouchere,  bring  me 
Mr  Bradlaugh  back  again.' " 

Grand  Tour.  More  than  a  hundred  years  ago  each  of  the 
sons  of  gentlemen  in  their  turn  made  the  Grand  or 
Extended  Tour  through  France,  Germany,  and  Italy, 
just  as  nowadays  daughters  are  presented  at  Court  as 
a  preliminary  to  moving  in  fashionable  society. 

Grange  Road.  Marks  the  situation  of  an  old  mansion  called 
"  The  Grange."  The  word  Grange  expresses  the  French 
for  a  barn  or  granary. 

Granite  State.     New  Hampshire,  from  its  staple  product. 

Grapes.  An  inn  or  public  sign,  denoting  that  the  house 
contained  a  vinery. 

Grass  Widow.  A  married  woman  separated  from  her 
husband,  but  not  divorced.  In  the  eyes  of  the  world 
she  passes  for  a  widow  by  grace  of  courtesy.     The 


122       Grays — Great  Queen  Street 

correct   description  is,  therefore,  a  "Grace  Widow." 
The  corruption  came  about  quite  easily. 

Grays.  Anciently  the  estate  of  the  noble  family  who  gave 
their  name  to  Gray's  Inn,  their  town  mansion.  Lady 
Jane  Grey  came  of  this  stock. 

Gray's  Inn.     The  Inn  or  mansion  of  the  Earls  Gray,  made 

over  to  the   law   students,   temp.    Edward   III.     See 

"Inn." 
Gray's  Inn  Road.     From  Gray's  Inn,  the  eastern  wall  of 

which  it  skirts. 
Great  Bear  Lake.     On  account  of  its  situation  under  the 

northern  constellation  of  the  Great  Bear. 

Great  Belt.     The  great  strait  leading  to  the  Baltic  Sea. 

Both  these  names  are  derived  from  the  Norse  bait, 

strait. 
Great  College  Street.     At  the  southern  extremity  of  this 

thoroughfare   in    Camden   Town   stands    the   Royal 

Veterinary  College. 
Great  Coram  Street.     From  the  Foundling  Hospital  built 

and  endowed  by  Captain  Thomas  Coram  in  1739. 

Great  Dover  Street.  The  London  portion  of  the  old 
Roman  highway  to  Dover. 

Great  George  Street.     Stands  on  the  site  of  the  stable-yard 

of  a  famous   old   coaching  inn,  "The   George  and 

Dragon." 
Great  Marlborough  Street.     In   honour  of   the   Duke   of 

Marlborough,   the  people's  idol  after  the  victory  of 

Blenheim. 
Great  Ormond  Street.     After  the  British  General,  James 

Butler,  second  Duke  of  Ormond. 

Great  Peter  Street.  Contiguous  to  Westminster  Abbey, 
dedicated  to  St  Peter. 

Great  Portland  Street.  The  business  thoroughfare  on  the 
Duke  of  Portland's  estate. 

Great  Queen  Street.  First  laid  out  across  the  fields  in  the 
time  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  and  named  after  her. 


Great  Russell  Street— Green  Dragon  123 

Great  Russell  Street.  In  honour  of  the  ill-fated  Lord 
William  Russell,  whose  wife,  Rachel,  was  the  daughter 
of  the  Duke  of  Bedford,  the  great  ground  landlord. 

Great  St  Helen's.  Occupies  the  site  of  the  ancient  priory 
of  St  Helen's,  of  which  the  church  remains. 

Great  St  Thomas  Apostle.  Marks  the  site  of  a  vanished 
church  of  this  name. 

Great  Stanhope  Street.  From  the  mansion  of  Philip  Stan- 
hope, Earl  of  Chesterfield. 

Great  Suffolk  Street.  After  Suffolk  House,  in  which  re- 
sided George  Brandon,  Duke  of  Suffolk. 

Great  Sutton  Street.  Perpetuates  the  memory  of  Thomas 
Sutton,  the  founder  of  the  Charter  House. 

Great  Titchfield  Street.  After  the  Duke  of  Grafton  and 
Marquis  of  Titchfield,  father  of  the  Earl  of  Euston,  the 
ground  landlord. 

Great  Winchester  Street.  From  Winchester  House,  the 
residence  of  the  first  Earl  of  Winchester. 

Great  Windmill  Street.  A  couple  of  centuries  ago,  when 
this  district  was  open  fields,  a  large  windmill  stood 
hereabouts. 

Greece.  Called  Grcecia  by  the  Romans,  after  the  Graikoi^ 
a  tribe  of  settlers  in  Epiros. 

Greek  Street.  At  one  time  a  colony  of  Greek  merchants 
who  contributed  to  the  erection  of  a  Greek  church 
here. 

Greenaway  Gardens.  After  the  late  Miss  Kate  Greenaway, 
the  lady  artist,  who  resided  in  its  vicinity. 

Greenbacks.  The  paper  currency  of  the  United  States, 
printed  in  green  and  with  a  device  of  the  same  colour 
on  the  back.  Mr  Chase,  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  in 
1862,  claimed  the  honour  of  having  added  this  word 
to  the  American  vocabulary. 

Green  Dragon.  In  inn  sign  anciently  depicting  the  combat 
of  St  George  with  the  dragon. 


1 24  Greengage — Grenadiers 

Greengage.  The  greenish  plum  introduced  to  England  by 
Lord  Gage  from  the  monastery  of  La  Chartreuse  in 
France. 

Greengrocer.     See  "Grocer." 

Greenhorn.  A  raw,  inexperienced  youth.  The  allusion 
here  is  to  the  undeveloped  horns  of  a  young  ox. 

Green  Horse.  The  nickname  of  the  5th  Dragoon  Guards, 
from  their  green  facings. 

Greenland.  From  the  moss  which  grows  abundantly  in 
this  otherwise  sterile  region.  Iceland  or  Greenland 
moss  is  said  to  be  very  efficacious  in  the  treatment  of 
consumption. 

Green  Man.  An  inn  sign  denoting  that  the  house  was 
kept  by  a  retired  gamekeeper  of  the  lord  of  the 
manor.  Mediaeval  gamekeepers  always  dressed  in 
green.     See  "  Inn." 

Green  Man  and  Still.  A  tavern  sign  pointing  to  the  ex- 
istence on  the  premises  of  a  still  where  cordials  were 
distilled  from  green  herbs.  In  this  case  the  house 
was  not  kept  by  a  gamekeeper,  but  by  a  herbalist.  It 
may,  however,  have  belonged  to  an  innkeeper  or  a 
"  Green  Man  "  further  afield  on  the  same  estate. 

Green  Mountain  State.     Vermont,  as  its  name  implies. 

Green  Park.     On  account  of  its  delightful  grassy  surface. 

Green-room.  From  the  green-coloured  walls  of  the  room 
set  apart  by  David  Garrick  behind  the  scenes  of  Drury 
Lane  Theatre  for  members  of  the  company  in  the 
intervals  of  playing  their  parts.  This  colour  was 
chosen  as  a  relief  to  the  eye  after  the  glare  of  the 
stage  lights. 

Green  Sea.  From  the  aspect  of  its  waters  looking  towards 
the  shores  of  Arabia. 

Greenwich.     Expresses  the  Saxon  for  "  green  village." 

Grenadiers.  Anciently  a  company  of  soldiers  who  marched 
in   front   of  every   regiment   of  foot,  it   being   their 


Gresham  Street — Groggery        125 

function  to  throw  hand-grenades  into  the  ranks  of  the 
enemy. 

Gresham  Street.  After  Sir  Thomas  Gresham,  founder  of 
the  Royal  Exchange.  His  residence  in  Old  Broad 
Street,  on  the  site  of  the  present  Gresham  House,  was 
converted  by  him  into  a  college,  which  in  1843  was 
removed  into  Gresham  Street.  The  word  Gresham 
comes  from  the  German  Grassheim,  "grass  home"; 
hence  the  grasshopper  on  the  summit  of  the  Royal 
Exchange. 

Greville  Street.  Marks  the  site  of  the  mansion  of  Fulke 
Greville,  Lord  Brooke,  one  of  the  ministers  of 
James  I. 

Grey  Friars.     See  "Franciscans." 

Greyhound.  An  inn  sign  derived  from  the  badge  of  Henry 
VII.  The  dog  of  this  name  originally  came  from 
Greece,  and  was  accordingly  styled  a  graihund,  after 
the  Graikoi)  the  people  of  that  country. 

Gripsack.  An  Americanism  for  a  travellers'  hand-bag, 
corresponding  to  an  English  carpet  bag. 

Grisette.  A  generic  name  for  a  Parisian  shop  or  work 
girl,  from  the  gris,  or  grey  cloth,  which  was  at  one 
time  generally  worn  by  the  inferior  classes  in  France. 

Grocer.  A  term  derived  from  the  same  root  as  Gross,  "  the 
great  hundred,"  and  applied  to  a  provision  dealer  who 
in  former  times  was  the  only  trader  rejoicing  in  the 
monopoly  of  dealing  in  large  quantities. 

Grocery.  An  Americanism  for  a  grocer's  store  or  shop. 
Also  used  in  the  plural  sense  for  commodities  dealt  in 
by  a  grocer;  corresponding  to  our  "groceries." 

Grog.  The  name  originally  given  by  the  sailors  under 
Admiral  Edward  Vernon  to  the  rum  diluted  with  water 
he  served  out  to  them  on  board  ship.  They  called 
him  "  Old  Grog  "  because  he  always  appeared  on  deck 
in  a  long  grogram  cloak  when  the  weather  was  "  dirty." 

Groggery.     An  Americanism  for  a   "grog  shop"  where 


1 26    Grosvenor  Sq. — Gulf  of  Carpentaria 

spirituous  liquors  only  are  purveyed ;  answering  to  our 
"Gin  Palace." 

Grosvenor  Square.  The  centre  of  the  London  estate  of 
the  Grosvenor  family.  Sir  Richard  Grosvenor  was 
Grand  Cup-bearer  to  George  II.  The  word  Grosvenor 
is  Norman-French — i.e.  Le  Gros  Veneur,  "  the  chief 
hunter." 

Groundlings.  The  common  spectators  at  the  plays  referred 
to  by  Hamlet  in  his  "Advice  to  the  Players."  The 
earliest  London  playhouses  were  the  inn-yards,  whose 
galleries  corresponded  to  our  box  tiers,  while  the  yard 
itself  was  given  up  to  the  audience  generally. 

Growler.  A  four-wheeled  cab,  so  called  from  the  surly 
manners  of  the  driver.  Since  the  advent  of  the 
M  Hansom  "  his  vehicle  is  rarely  in  request,  save  when 
the  "fare"  has  much  luggage  to  convey  to  a  railway 
station  or  when  a  patient  is  being  driven  to  the 
hospital. 

Guadalquiver.  From  the  Arabic  Wad-al-Kebir,  "great 
river." 

Guildford  Street.  After  Francis  North,  Lord  Keeper,  who 
resided  in  it. 

Guildhall.  The  Hall  of  the  City  Guilds.  The  old  word 
Guild  expressed  the  fee  paid  for  membership  in  an 
association  of  artisans;  from  the  Anglo-Saxon  gild, 
money,  giidan,  to  pay. 

Guinea.  A  West  African  term  for  "abounding  in  gold." 
The  English  coin  of  this  name  was  first  struck  in 
1663  out  of  gold  brought  from  the  coast  of  Guinea. 

Guinea  Fowl.  Originally  brought  from  Guinea,  West 
Africa. 

Guinea  Pig.  A  South  American  rodent,  somewhat  re- 
sembling a  pig.     Its  name  is  a  corruption  of  Guiana 


Gulf  of  Carpentaria.     Discovered  by  Captain  Carpenter,  a 
Dutch  navigator,  in  1606. 


Gulf  States — Haberdasher        127 

Gulf  States.  Florida,  Alabama,  Mississippi,  Louisiana, 
and  Texas — all  bordering  on  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 

Gulf  Stream.  The  warm  equatorial  waters  of  the  Amazon 
River,  which,  after  coursing  round  the  coasts  of  South 
America  and  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  make  their  way 
across  the  Atlantic,  direct  for  the  British  Isles  and 
Norway.  This  ocean  stream,  never  less  than  forty 
miles  in  breadth,  is  distinguished  by  a  deep  indigo 
colour. 

Gunnersbury.  The  name  of  a  Saxon  village,  after  the  Lady 
Gunylda,  a  niece  of  King  Canute,  who  took  up  her 
residence  here  while  England  was  under  the  sway  of 
the  Danes. 

Gutta-percha.  A  Malay  term,  gutta,  gum,  and  percha,  the 
tree  which  provides  it. 

Gutter  Lane.  A  corruption  of  "  Gutheron  Lane,"  from  a 
Danish  burgher  who  resided  in  it. 

Guy's  Hospital.  The  generous  benefaction  of  Thomas 
Guy,  a  wealthy  Lombard  Street  bookseller,  in  1722. 
His  large  fortune  was  chiefly  due  to  the  buying  up,  at 
a  large  discount,  of  seamen's  prize-money  tickets,  and 
investing  the  proceeds  in  South-Sea  Stock. 

Gyp.  The  college  servitor  at  Cambridge,  so  called  be- 
cause he  subsists  on  the  perquisites  of  those  whom  he 
waits  upon.     Gyp  expresses  the  Greek  for  a  vulture. 

H 

Haberdasher.  Anciently  one  who  sold  Hapertas  cloth, 
a  mixture  of  silk  and  wool.  In  modern  times  a 
haberdasher  is  a  vendor  of  smallwares,  such  as 
handkerchiefs,  neckties,  tapes,  etc.  The  origin  of 
the  word  Hapertas  has  been  traced  to  the  Anglo- 
Saxon  Habihr  das  :  "  Will  you  buy  this  ?  "  a  trader's 
exclamation  similar  to  that  of  the  London  'prentice  of 
a  later  period  :  "  What  do  you  lack  ?  "  However  this 
may  be,  the  German  tauschen  stands  for  sale,  ex- 
change, barter. 


128       Hack  Author— Half-and-half 

Hack  Author.     See  "  Hackney  Coach." 

Hackney.  The  whole  of  this  district  originally  belonged 
to  a  Danish  Chief  named  Hacon.  The  suffix  ey 
expresses  an  island — i.e.  land  intersected  by  rivu- 
lets (in  this  case  of  the  Lea) — or  low,  marshy  ground. 
The  suggestion  that  coaches  were  first  let  out  for  hire 
in  this  neighbourhood  is  not  correct.  See  "Hackney 
Coach." 

Hackney  Coach.  One  let  out  for  hire.  In  France  a 
coche-a-haquenee  expresses  a  coach  drawn  by  a  hired 
horse.  Originally  the  word  haquenee  meant  any  kind 
of  horse  but  a  thoroughbred.  The  Dutch  hakkenei 
means  hack  horse,  an  ambling  nag.  From  the  French 
haquenee  we  have  derived  the  term  hack  author,  or 
literary  hack,  one  whose  services  are  hired  for  poor 
pay  by  a  bookseller. 

Haggerston.  A  Saxon  village  called  " Hergotstein?  "Our 
God's  Stone."  The  stone  is  believed  to  have  had 
relation  to  a  miraculous  well,  beside  which  an  altar 
was  set  up. 

Hague.  Properly,  according  to  the  Dutch  name  of  the 
place,  Gravenhaag,  the  ancient  seat  of  the  Gravs  or 
Counts  of  Holland. 

Hail.  An  exclamation  of  greeting  derived  from  the 
Anglo-Saxon  heel,  "health."  The  Scandinavian  heill 
expressed  the  same  sentiment.     See  "Wassail." 

Halberd.  From  two  Teutonic  words,  hild^  battle,  and  bard, 
axe. 

Halcyon  Days.  Days  of  peace  and  tranquillity.  This  was 
the  name  anciently  given  to  the  seven  days  before  and 
after  the  shortest  day,  because,  according  to  fable, 
there  were  always  calms  at  sea  during  this  period 
while  the  halcyon  or  kingfisher  birds  were  breeding. 

Half-and-half.  Originally  a  mixture  in  equal  proportions 
of  strong  ale  and  small  beer.  In  modern  days  it 
consists  of  half  ale  and  half  porter.  See  "  Entire"  and 
"Porter." 


Half  Moon  Street — Hallelujah  Victory  1 29 

Half  Moon  Street.  After  an  ancient  tavern,  "  The  Half 
Moon,"  which  stood  in  this  neighbourhood.  This 
sign  was  derived  from  the  crescent  or  ensign  of  the 
Turks. 

Halfpenny.  The  original  penny  pieces  were  deeply  in- 
dented crosswise,  so  that  halfpennies  and  farthings 
(or  fourthlings)  could  easily  be  broken  off,  as  occasion 
demanded. 

Half  Seas  Over.  A  nautical  phrase  applied  to  a  drunken 
man  staggering  along,  who  is  in  danger  of  falling  to 
the  ground  at  any  moment.  When  a  ship  has  all  her 
sails  spread  a  sudden  change  in  the  direction  of  the 
wind  often  threatens  to  lay  her  on  her  side. 

Halifax.  A  corruption  of  the  Saxon  "  Haligfock,"  from 
halig,  holy,  and  fock,  people.  For  what  reason  the 
inhabitants  of  this  place  were  considered  more  saintly 
than  people  elsewhere  local  tradition  does  not  say. 
Halifax  in  Nova  Scotia  was  named,  on  the  foundation 
of  the  city  in  1749,  by  the  Hon.  Edward  Cornwallis, 
after  the  Earl  of  Halifax. 

Halifax  Gibbet  Law.  An  ancient  enactment  for  the  pro- 
tection of  the  local  woollen  manufacture.  Owing  to  the 
systematic  theft  by  the  employees  in  the  trade  of 
material  supplied  to  them,  it  was  found  that  the  fabric 
lacked  body  and  weight.  To  put  a  stop  to  this  pilfer- 
ing a  law  was  passed,  making  the  theft  of  anything 
whatsoever,  to  the  value  to  thirteen  pence  halfpenny, 
subject  to  the  death  penalty.  On  conviction  before  a 
magistrate  the  thief  was  publicly  executed  on  the 
next  market  day.  The  mode  of  execution  was  not  by 
hanging,  but  by  beheading,  the  instrument  used  being 
a  kind  of  guillotine.  Taylor,  the  Water  Poet,  speaks 
of  this 

"  Jyn  that  wondrous  quick  and  well, 
Sends  thieves  all  headless  into  heaven  or  hell." 

Hallelujah.  From  the  Hebrew  ka/elu,  "praise  ye,"  and 
Iah,  "Jehovah." 

Hallelujah  Victory.     That  gained  by  the  newly  baptised 


130  Hall  Mark — Hampstead 

Bretons  under  Germanus,  Bishop  of  Auxerre,  in  429. 
As  they  marched  to  the  attack  they  cried  "  Hallelujah  ! " 

Hall  Mark.  The  test  mark  of  Goldsmiths'  Hall  stamped 
upon  gold  and  silver  plate  as  a  guarantee  of  its  purity. 

Hamiltonian  System.  A  novel  method  of  teaching  lan- 
guages, invented  by  James  Hamilton,  a  merchant, 
whose  death  took  place  at  Dublin,  1831.  The 
peculiarity  of  this  system  was  that  it  dispensed  with 
the  initiatory  grammatical  stages. 

Hamilton  Place.  After  Colonel  James  Hamilton,  Ranger 
of  Hyde  Park,  temp.  Charles  II. 

Hammer  and  Scourge  of  England.  The  sobriquet  of  Sir 
William  Wallace,  the  Scottish  warrior  patriot. 

Hammer  and  Tongs.  A  corruption  of  "Hammer  and 
Tongues."  A  wordy  warfare  is  well  described  as  a 
hammering  of  tongues;  hence  the  saying:  "They 
went  at  it  hammer  and  tongs"  (tongues). 

Hammer-cloth.  It  has  been  suggested  that  this  is  the 
covering  for  the  box-seat  of  a  coach  that  contained 
the  hammer,  bolts,  nails,  etc.,  useful  to  remedy  a 
breakdown  on  a  journey.  The  true  meaning  of  the 
term  is, however,  that  it  is  properly  "Hammock-cloth," 
the  driver's  seat  being  formed  of  stout  straps  or 
webbing  stretched  upon  crutches,  after  the  fashion 
of  a  sailor's  hammock. 

Hammered.  A  stockbroker  is  said  to  be  "hammered" 
when  he  is  driven  out  of  the  Stock  Exchange  on 
account  of  his  failure  to  meet  his  liabilities. 

Hammersmith.  Originally  Hammer schmiede,  literally  Saxon 
for  blacksmith's  shop.  In  the  early  periods  of  its 
history  this  village  had  a  great  number  of  smithies. 

Hampshire  (or  Hants).  The  shire  of  the  Hamptune, 
Hantone,  or  Anton,  which  river  gives  its  name  to  the 
county  town  and  "Southampton  Water." 

Hampstead.  From  "  Homestead,"  signifying  the  enclosed 
property — i.e.  farm  buildings — of  a  rural  mansion. 


Hampton— H  andyman  1 3 1 

Hampton.  From  the  Saxon  heim,  home,  to  which  ton  or 
town  was  added.  "Hampton  Wick"  expresses  the 
village  home  on  a  creek. 

Hampton  Court.  In  the  thirteenth  century  the  manor  of 
Hampton  belonged  to  the  Knights  of  St  John 
of  Jerusalem.  Cardinal  Wolsey  built  himself  a 
sumptuous  palace  here,  and  lived  in  luxurious  style. 
Eventually  he  presented  it  to  Henry  VIII.,  since 
whose  time  Hampton  Court  has  remained  Crown 
property.  The  last  monarch  who  resided  here  was 
George  II. 

Hand  in  your  Checks.  An  Americanism  for  dying,  giving 
up  the  ghost ;  meaning  properly  to  make  your  will  and 
settle  your  earthly  affairs.  All  over  the  United  States 
it  is  the  custom  at  German  restaurants  to  give  a  certain 
amount  of  credit  to  known  regular  patrons,  who  now 
and  again  are  asked  to  hand  in  their  checks  or 
vouchers  for  settlement. 

Handkerchief.  Anciently  a  kerchief,  which  term  was  a 
corruption  of  "  Coverchef,"  from  the  French  couvrir,  to 
cover,  and  chef,  the  head,  reserved  for  hand  use  in 
wiping  the  face,  and  carried  in  the  left  sleeve  of  the 
garment.  At  a  later  period,  until  the  reign  of  Elizabeth, 
when  pockets  came  into  vogue,  the  handkerchief 
found  a  place  in  the  pouch  worn  on  the  left  side  of 
the  girdle. 

Handsel  Monday.  The  first  Monday  in  the  New  Year, 
when  handsels  or  gifts  were  bestowed  upon  servants. 
The  word  "Handsel"  is  Anglo-Saxon,  meaning  the 
delivery  of  something  into  another's  hands ;  also  the 
first  instalment  of  a  series  of  payments  as  an  earnest 
of  good  faith. 

Handyman.  The  modern  designation  of  a  bluejacket  or 
man-of-war's-man.  Since  1882,  when,  after  the  bom- 
bardment of  Alexandria,  he  was  sent  ashore  to  co- 
operate with  our  troops  in  Egypt,  he  has  proved 
himself  not  only  an  expert  fighting  man  with  the 
cutlass  and  musket,  but  an  agile  auxiliary  to  the 
artillery — in  short,  a  handy  man  in  all  respects. 


132        Hangbird — Hanway  Street 

Hangbird.  The  Baltimore  oriole,  which  suspends  its  nest 
from  a  tree  branch. 

Hanged,  Drawn,  and  Quartered.  The  former  capital 
sentence  for  treason.  The  criminal  was  drawn  to  the 
place  of  execution  upon  a  hurdle,  hanged,  and  his  body 
was  hewn  into  four  quarters,  each  being  spiked  in  a 
public  place  as  an  example  to  the  multitude.  This 
quartering  was  substituted,  in  the  fifty-fourth  year  of 
the  reign  of  George  III.,  for  the  disembowelling  of  the 
hanged  criminal  while  he  was  yet  alive. 

Hang  of  the  Thing.  An  Americanism  for  the  mechanism 
or  the  understanding  of  a  thing — e.g.  "  I  can't  get  the 
hang  of  the  thing  nohow." 

Hanover  Square.  In  honour  of  the  Hanoverian  Succession, 
because  laid  out  and  built  upon  in  the  reign  of 
George  I. 

Hansards.  Parliamentary  debates  and  papers,  so  called 
because  they  were  printed  by  Luke  Hansard  and  his 
successors  from  the  year  1752  until  comparatively 
recent  days. 

Hanse  Towns.  Those  towns  of  Northern  Germany  em- 
braced by  the  Hansa  or  Hanseatic  League,  as  long  ago 
as  the  thirteenth  century,  for  the  protection  of  com- 
merce against  pirates  at  sea  and  marauders  on  land. 
The  word  Hansa  is  Gothic  for  a  league,  society, 
federation. 

Hans  Place.  After  Sir  Hans  Sloane,  the  original  ground 
landlord.     See  "  Sloane  Square." 

Hansom  Cab.  The  "Safety  Cab"  patented  in  1883  by 
Joseph  Aloysius  Hansom.  This  was  not  so  much  an 
improvement  upon  the  Four-Wheeler  as  a  horse-drawn 
adaptation  of  the  invalids'  chair  introduced  at  Brighton 
at  the  commencement  of  the  century.     See  "  Fly." 

Hants.     See  "  Hampshire." 

Hanway  Street.  Here  resided  Jonas  Hanway,  the  founder 
of  Magdalen  Hospital,  who,  newly  arrived  in  England 
from   Persia,  and   in   delicate    health,  excited  much 


Happify — Harley  Street  133 

ridicule  because  he  was  the  first  male  pedestrian  to 
carry  an  umbrella  through  the  London  streets  as  a 
protection  against  the  rain.  Hackney  coachmen  were 
especially  wrath  at  this  innovation,  foreseeing  that 
their  business  would  be  ruined  if  it  caught  on  with  the 
public. 

Happify.  An  Americanism  for  to  make  happy — e.g.  "One 
ought  to  try  to  happify  mankind." 

Hapsburg.  The  name  of  the  Imperial  family  of  Austria, 
derived  from  Habichtsburg,  or  "  Hawk's  Castle,"  built 
by  Werner,  Bishop  of  Strasburg,  on  the  right  bank  of 
the  Aar,  in  the  Swiss  canton  of  the  Aargau — i.e.  country 
of  the  Aar  River. 

Hard  pushed.     See  "  Hard  up." 

Hard-shell  Baptists.  The  American  term  for  the  hard  and 
strait-laced  sect  of  Baptists;  corresponding  to  that 
which  in  England  is  designated  the  "Particular 
Baptists." 

Hard  up.  The  allusion  is  to  being  pushed  hard  by  circum- 
stances into  a  tight  corner. 

Harem.     Expresses  the  Arabic  for  "Sacred  Spot." 

Harewood  Square.  From  the  town  house  of  the  Earls  of 
Harewood. 

Harlequin.     From  the  Italian  arkchino,  a  satirist,  a  jester. 

Harlequinade.  The  comic  scenes  of  a  pantomime.  In  the 
original  form  of  this  entertainment  the  Harlequinade 
was  by  far  the  longer  portion,  and  the  principal 
character  was  Harlequin,  the  lover  of  Columbine. 
To  his  ingenuity  in  evading  the  clown  and  pantaloon, 
and  confusing  them  by  wondrous  changeful  tricks 
brought  about  by  his  magic  wand,  the  success  of  the 
good  old  English  pantomime  was  due.  Speaking 
clowns  did  not  come  into  existence  before  the  days  of 
Grimaldi. 

Harley  Street.  After  Edward  Harley,  Earl  of  Oxford  and 
Mortimer,  the  ground  landlord. 


134    Harmonium — Harvest  Festival 

Harmonium.  From  the  sustained  harmonies  produced  on 
this  wind  instrument  by  means  of  the  keys  and 
finger-board. 

Harold  Harefoot.  Harold  L,  the  Saxon  King  of  England, 
surnamed  "  Harefoot "  because  he  was  fleet  of  foot  as 
a  hare. 

Harpsichord.  An  old  form  of  pianoforte,  so  called  because 
it  was  a  harp  encased  longitudinally,  and  its  chords 
were  produced  by  the  player  on  a  key  or  finger  board. 

Harpur  Street.  After  Sir  William  Harpur,  Lord  Mayor  in 
1562,  the  owner  of  a  considerable  estate  in  this 
neighbourhood. 

Harrier.  A  dog  specially  suited  for  hunting  the  hare  owing 
to  his  keen  scent;  also  one  who  engages  in  a  foot 
race  according  to  the  rule  that  each  individual  contest- 
ant makes  for  the  goal  by  a  different  route. 

Harringay.  Expresses  a  neighbourhood  or  district  abound- 
ing in  hares. 

Harrington  Square.  The  property  of  one  of  the  Earls  of 
Harrington,  whose  daughter  married  the  seventh  Duke 
of  Bedford. 

Hart  Street.  Both  these  thoroughfares,  in  Bloomsbury 
and  off  Drury  Lane,  received  their  names  from  an 
adjacent  inn  sign,  "The  White  Hart." 

Harum-scarum.  One  who  is  such  a  fright  that  he  scares 
all  beholders;  causing  them  to  fly  from  him  with  the 
swiftness  of  a  hare. 

Harvard  Uuiversity.  The  foundation  and  endowment 
of  the  Rev.  John  Harvard  at  Cambridge,  Massa- 
chusetts, in  1638. 

Harvest  Festival.  This  distinctly  religious  observance  by 
way  of  thanksgiving  for  the  fruits  of  the  earth  really 
originated  in  or  grew  out  of  the  Harvest  Supper  which 
landlords  were  accustomed  to  give  their  tenants  after 
the  harvest  had  been  gathered  in,  because  what  was 
the  ancient  "  Lammas  Day  "  fell  into  abeyance  at  the 
Reformation. 


Harz  Mountains — Hawkeye  State    135 

Harz  Mountains.  Both  these  mountain  ranges  are  for  the 
most  part  forest  clad.  Harz  is  Old  Saxon  for  wood, 
forest. 

Hasn't  a  Leg  to  stand  on.  A  figurative  expression  applied 
to  one  whose  argument  has  no  support  or  firm  basis. 

Has  the  true  Ring.  A  phrase  generally  applied  to  poetry, 
in  allusion  to  the  common  test  of  genuine  or  debased 
coin  by  "  ringing  "  it  on  a  board  or  table. 

Hatton  Garden.  Laid  out  across  the  extensive  grounds 
attached  to  Hatton  House,  in  which  resided  Sir 
Christopher  Hatton,  the  Chancellor  of  Queen 
Elizabeth. 

Hauled  over  the  Coals.  An  expression  dating  back  to  the 
Ordeal  by  Fire,  where  persons  accused  of  a  crime  were 
made  to  walk  barefooted  over  red-hot  iron  shares  or 
glowing  embers.  If  they  did  so  unharmed  that  was 
considered  a  proof  of  their  innocence. 

Hautboy.  From  the  French  hautbois,  literally  "  high  wood," 
being  a  high-toned  reed  instrument. 

Havelock.  The  white  cloth  forming  part  of  the  military 
cap  as  a  protection  against  the  scorching  rays  of  the 
sun,  introduced  by  General  Havelock  during  the 
Indian  Mutiny. 

Haversack.  Provincial  English  for  Oatsack,  derived  from 
the  German  habersack.  The  word  ha/re,  oats,  is 
Scandinavian. 

Haverstock  Hill.  From  a  stockaded  dwelling  among  the 
oats.     See  "  Haversack." 

Havre.     Originally  "  Le  Havre  de  Notre  Dame  de  Grace," 

the    Harbour    of    Our    Lady   of  Mercy,    afterwards 

shortened  into  "  Havre  de  Grace." 
Hawker.     From  the  German  hoken^  to  carry  on  the  back. 

A  pedlar  who  carried   his  wares  in  a  sack  over  his 

shoulder. 

Hawkeye  State.  Iowa,  owing  to  the  sanguinary  conflicts 
with  the  savage  tribe  led  by  the  chief  "Hawkeye." 
Its  people  are  called  "  Hawkeyes," 


1 36  Hawthorn — Heathen 

Hawthorn.     Expresses  the  Anglo-Saxon  for  "  hedge  thorn." 

Haydon  Square.  After  the  ground  landlord,  John  Heydon, 
Alderman  of  the  city  of  London  towards  the  close  of 
the  sixteenth  century. 

Hay  Hill.  Marks  the  situation,  together  with  Hill  Street 
and  Farm  Street,  of  an  old  farm  on  the  lands  of  John, 
Lord  Berkeley  of  Stratton,  temp.  Charles  I. 

Haymarket.  Where  hay  was  sold  in  open  market  prior  to 
January  1831. 

Hayti.     West  Indian  for  "mountainous  country." 

Hazing.  An  Americanism  for  a  mad  sport  or  frolic. 
Specifically  it  expresses  the  tricks  played  upon,  and 
the  ignominious  treatment  meted  out  to,  an  unpopular 
comrade  in  the  army  and  the  Military  Schools ;  what 
in  our  own  country  is  called  "  Ragging."  Like  most 
other  Americanisms,  the  word  cannot  be  explained  on 
etymological  grounds. 

Hear,  Hear.  A  modern  form  of  the  ancient  parliamentary 
exclamation  "Hear  him!"  to  enjoin  silence  while  a 
Member  was  addressing  the  House. 

Hearse.  From  the  French  herse  and  German  hirsch.  Both 
these  terms  expressed  a  harrow  or  triangular  candle- 
stick set  at  the  head  of  a  coffin  at  a  funeral  service  in 
church.  At  a  later  period  they  implied  a  sepulchral 
mound  temporarily  distinguished  by  a  triangular  stake 
setting  forth  a  number  or  other  identification  mark. 
The  modern  application  of  the  term  to  a  vehicle  speci- 
ally designed  for  the  conveyance  of  a  body  to  the  grave 
was  an  easy  transition. 

Heart-breakers.  Artificial  ringlets  formerly  worn  by  ladies 
to  enhance  their  beauty.  It  is  said  that  the  most  in- 
veterate woman-hater  was  not  proof  against  the  attrac- 
tion of  these  Heart-breakers. 

Heathen.  Literally  a  dweller  on  a  heath  in  the  open 
country.  The  Romans  applied  the  term  to  those  who, 
having  no  communion  with  the  dwellers  in  cities,  were 
cut  off  from  all  knowledge  of  their  complicated  system 


Heaven-sent  Minister — Hector      137 

of  mythology.  When  Rome  became  converted  to 
Christianity  the  untutored  inhabitants  of  the  country 
at  large  were  the  last  to  receive  the  Gospel.  A  heathen 
nation  therefore,  in  a  religious  sense,  is  one  far  re- 
moved from  civilisation,  which  offers  a  fruitful  field  for 
missionary  work. 

Heaven-sent  Minister.  William  Pitt,  first  Earl  of  Chatham, 
one  of  the  most  eminent  statesmen  that  England  has 
ever  possessed.  His  intense  love  of  his  own  country 
prompted  him  to  measures  which  made  the  success  of 
British  arms  pre-eminent.  Had  his  colleagues  during 
the  later  portion  of  his  career  been  actuated  by  the 
same  patriotism  as  himself,  and  heeded  his  warnings, 
our  American  colonies  might  never  have  separated 
from  the  Mother  Country. 

Heavy  Hill.  Holborn  Hill,  because  the  hearts  of  those 
riding  in  the  fatal  cart  to  the  place  of  execution  at 
Tyburn  were  heavily  laden. 

"  He  "  Bible.  The  first  edition  of  the  Authorised  Version, 
containing  a  typographical  error  in  Ruth  iii.  15  :  "And 
he  went  into  the  city."  The  subsequent  edition,  pub- 
lished in  the  same  year,  in  which  the  passage  was  recti- 
fied, became  known  as  "The  'She'  Bible." 

Hebrews.  Said  to  be  descendants  of  Eber,  the  great- 
grandson  of  Shem,  one  of  the  ancestors  of  Abraham. 
The  greater  probability,  however,  is  that  the  term  has 
been  derived  from  the  native  ebher^  the  region  on  the 
other  side — i.e.  of  the  Euphrates. 

Hebrides.  Expresses  the  "  Western  Isles "  of  the  Nor- 
wegians. 

Hector.  To  swagger,  bully,  treat  with  insolence,  after 
Hector,  the  celebrated  Trojan  warrior.  From  the 
known  character  of  this  hero  of  antiquity  it  is  not  easy 
to  conceive  that  he  could  ever  have  been  a  braggart. 
The  inference  is  rather  that  this  word  in  its  accepted 
sense  was  derived  from  the  brutal  manner  in  which 
Achilles  treated  the  body  of  Hector  after  he  had 
slain  him  in  single  combat. 


138        Hedge  Priest — Hellespont 

Hedge  Priest.  Specifically  in  Ireland  an  itinerant  cleric 
unattached  to  any  mission  j  one  admitted  to  Holy 
Orders  without  having  studied  theology. 

Hedge  School.  An  open-air  school  in  the  poor  rural  dis- 
tricts of  Ireland  beside  a  hedge. 

Heel  of  Achilles.  When  Thetis,  the  mother  of  Achilles, 
dipped  her  son  in  the  River  Styx  to  make  him  invul- 
nerable the  water  laved  every  portion  of  his  body 
save  that  by  which  she  held  him.  It  was  according- 
ingly  in  the  heel  that  he  received  his  mortal  wound. 

Heir  Apparent.  The  rightful  heir  to  the  crown,  whose 
succession  is  beyond  a  doubt  provided  he  survives 
the  reigning  monarch. 

Heir-Presumptive.  The  presumed  heir  to  the  crown  pro- 
vided no  child  in  the  direct  line  of  succession  is  born 
to  supersede  his  claim. 

Heligoland.  Danish  for  "Holy  Land,"  which  name  was 
bestowed  upon  it  after  the  conversion  of  its  people 
by  St  Willibrod  in  the  seventh  century.  A  great  many 
conventual  establishments  sprang  up  on  the  soil,  but 
the  encroachments  of  the  sea  had  swept  them  away  by 
the  seventeenth  century.  Prior  to  their  conversion 
the  Anglii  were  wont  to  repair  to  this  isle  from  the 
opposite  mainland  for  the  worship  of  the  goddess 
Hertha,  also  known  as  Foseta,  of  whose  temple  it  is 
said  some  ruins  yet  remain. 

Heliotrope.  From  the  Greek  helios,  sun,  and  tropos,  to  turn. 
The  flowers  of  this  plant  are  said  always  to  turn 
towards  the  sun. 

Hello  Girls.  A  nickname  popularly  bestowed  upon  the 
telephone  girls  in  the  Post  Office  Department  at 
St  Martin' s-le-Gr and. 

Hellespont.  The  older  name  of  the  "  Dardanelles,"  where 
Helle  in  fleeing  from  her  stepmother  was  drowned. 
This  occurred  at  the  point  where  Xerxes  with  his 
army  had  crossed  the  strait  on  a  temporary  bridge. 


Hell  Kettles — Heroic  Verse       139 

Hell  Kettles.  Three  very  deep  pits  full  of  water  at  Oxen- 
hall,  Durham.  The  people  of  the  neighbourhood 
declare  them  to  be  bottomless.  They  are  really  dis- 
used coal  pits,  the  water  in  which  cannot  be  drained 
off. 

Helmuth  the  Taciturn.  The  sobriquet  of  Count  Von 
Moltke,  Field  Marshal  of  the  German  Empire,  on 
account  of  his  habitual  reserve. 

Helot.  The  name  given  by  the  Spartans  to  a  slave  from 
the  Greek  town  of  Ife/os,  whose  inhabitants  they 
reduced  to  slavery. 

Henbane.     A  plant  which  is  poisonous  to  poultry. 

Henchman.  A  corruption  of  "  Haunchman,"  the  groom  or 
servant  who  out  of  doors  was  in  constant  attendance 
upon  his  master  at  the  flank  or  haunches  of  his  horse. 
See  "Flunkey." 

Heneage  Lane.  After  the  residence  of  Sir  Thomas  Hene- 
age,  Chancellor  of  the  Duchy  of  Lancaster  in  the 
sixteenth  century. 

Henrietta  Street.  In  Covent  Garden,  after  Henrietta 
Maria,  Queen  of  Charles  I.  On  the  north  side  of 
Oxford  Street,  after  Henrietta  Cavendish,  who,  by  her 
marriage,  carried  not  only  a  goodly  portion  of  the 
Cavendish  estate,  but  also  that  of  her  father,  Lord 
Holies,  into  the  Harley  family. 

Henry  Irving.     See  "Irving." 

Heptarchy.  The  Saxon  division  of  England  comprising 
Kent,  Sussex,  Wessex,  Essex,  East  Anglia,  Mercia, 
and  Northumbria,  each  having  originally  its  own 
ruler. 

Herculaneum.  The  foundation  of  this  buried  city  was 
by  the  Romans  traditionally  ascribed  to  Hercules. 

Hereford.  Expresses  the  Saxon  for  "  army  ford  "  over  the 
River  Wye.  During  the  Heptarchy  this  was  the  military 
headquarters  of  Mercia. 

Heroic  Verse.     That  usually  selected  for  epic  poetry,  since 


1 40  H  ertford — H  essian 

the  exploits  of  Achilles  at  the  siege  of  Troy  were  set 
forth  by  Homer  in  hexameters. 

Hertford.  Originally  "  Hartford,"  being  the  ford  of  the 
River  Lea  crossed  by  harts. 

He's  a  Brick.  This  expression,  if  not  quite  as  old  as  the 
hills,  carries  us  back  to  the  time  of  Plutarch,  who  in 
his  "  Lives  "  gives  the  following  account  of  its  origin  : — 
"  On  a  certain  occasion,  an  ambassador  from  Epirus 
paid  a  visit  to  Argesilaus,  King  of  Sparta,  on  a  mission 
of  diplomatic  importance.  By  that  monarch  he  was 
shown  over  the  capital.  But  the  ambassador  failed  to 
see  any  massive  walls  reared  to  defend  the  city,  and 
openly  expressed  his  astonishment  to  the  King.  ■  Sire  ! ' 
he  said,  ■  I  have  visited  most  of  your  principal  towns, 
and  find  no  walls  reared  for  defence.  Why  is  this  ? ' 
1  Indeed,  Sir  Ambassador,'  Argesilaus  replied,  '  thou 
canst  not  have  looked  carefully.  Come  with  me  to- 
morrow, and  I  will  show  thee  the  walls  of  Sparta.'  On 
the  following  morning  the  King  conducted  his  guest 
out  upon  the  plains,  where  his  army  was  drawn  up 
in  full  battle  array,  and,  proudly  pointing  to  the  serried 
host,  he  exclaimed :  '  There,  Sir  Ambassador,  thou 
beholdest  the  walls  of  Sparta — ten  thousand  men,  and 
every  man  a  brick  ! ' " 

He's  joined  the  Majority.  See  "Gone  over  to  the 
Majority." 

Hessel  Street.  The  recent  change  from  Morgan  Street  to 
Hessel  Street  in  Stepney  is  accounted  for  by  the 
discovery  that  here  a  celebrated  character,  in  the 
person  of  Phcebe  Hessel,  was  born.  For  many  years 
she  served  as  a  private  soldier  in  the  Fifth  Regiment  of 
Foot,  and  fought  at  the  Battle  of  Fontenoy,  in  which 
engagement  she  was  wounded.  A  long  inscription  on 
her  tombstone  in  Brighton  churchyard  would  have  us 
believe  that  she  was  at  the  time  of  her  death,  21st 
December  182 1,  no  less  than  one  hundred  and  eight 
years  of  age. 

Hessian.     An  Americanism  for  a  hireling,  a  fighter  for  pay, 


Hessian  Fly — Highgate  141 

a  mercenary  politician.  The  Hessian  soldiers  have 
always  been  ready  to  enlist  in  a  foreign  service  for 
pay. 
Hessian  Fly.  An  insect  which  has  caused  the  utmost 
destruction  among  young  wheat  in  North  America,  so 
called  because  it  was  said  to  have  been  introduced  by 
the  Hessian  troops  in  their  horse  straw  during  the 
Revolution. 

Hetman.  The  Russian  title  of  the  general  or  headman  of 
the  Cossacks,  derived  from  the  Tartar  Ataman.  This 
too  supplies  the  origin  of  the  German  Hauptmann^ 
captain,  chief,  or  headman  of  a  village. 

Hibernia.     See  "  Ireland." 

Hickory.     See  "  Old  Hickory." 

Hicksite  Friends.  An  American  offshoot  of  the  Society  of 
Friends  or  Quakers  under  Elias  Hicks  in  1827. 

Highbury.  From  the  bury  or  enclosed  land  belonging  to 
the  Knights  of  St  John  of  Jerusalem  in  Clerkenwell. 
In  1271  they  built  a  priory  here,  of  which  the  barn 
remained  standing  until  modern  days.  Compared  with 
the  low-lying  district  round  about,  this  was  elevated 
ground. 

Highbury  Barn.  Originally  a  cake  and  ale  house  con- 
tiguous to  the  ancient  barn  of  the  Clerkenwell  Priory. 
This  place  of  public  resort  developed  into  a  theatre  in 
1865  ;  subsequently  it  degenerated  into  a  dancing 
saloon,  and  was  finally  abolished  in  1875. 

Highfalutin.  A  corruption  of  "high-flighting."  This 
word  originated  in  the  western  states  of  North 
America. 

Highgate.  The  village  that  sprang  up  around  the  ancient 
toll  gate  on  the  road  from  London  to  Barnet.  The 
tolls  levied  here  were  for  the  benefit  of  the  Bishop 
of  London.  Even  in  our  time  this  elevated  situation 
commands  a  good  view  of  London.  The  absurd  cere- 
mony of  "  swearing  on  the  horns  "  was  formerly  imposed 
on  all  travellers  passing  through  the  gate. 


142  High  Seas— Hoboken 

High  Seas.  The  great  ocean  highways  out  of  sight  of 
land  and  common  to  mariners  of  all  nations. 

High  Tea.  A  substantial  meat  tea  towards  the  close  of 
the  day  in  place  of  the  fashionable  set  dinner.  This 
is  the  invariable  custom  in  Germany.  In  English  it  is 
usual  to  designate  such  a  meal  asa"  Knife  and  Fork 
Tea."    See  "High  Time." 

High  Time.  A  phrase  employed  in  the  same  sense  as  High 
Street,  High  Seas,  Highway,  etc. — i.e.  great.  The 
German  word  for  wedding  is  JTochzeit,  literally  a  "  high 
time."  In  America  the  expression  for  a  festive  occa- 
sion or  a  pleasurable  trip  is  "  a  good  time." 

Hilary  Term.  In  law  the  sittings  of  the  Courts  from 
nth  to  13th  January,  so  called  from  the  festival  of 
St  Hilary,  Bishop  of  Poitiers,  on  the  latter  date. 

Hill  Street.     See  "  Hay  Hill." 

Himalaya  Mountains.  From  the  Sanskrit  hima,  snow,  and 
a/aya,  abode. 

Hinde  Street.  After  James  Hinde,  a  speculative  builder, 
who  more  than  a  century  ago  laid  out  many  of  the 
streets  now  covering  what  was  the  estate  of  Maryle- 
bone  Park. 

Hindustan.  Agreeably  to  the  Persian  stan,  the  country 
traversed  by  the  Hindu  or  Indus ;  both  terms  are  de- 
rived from  the  Sanskrit  Sindhu,  "great  river." 

Hippodrome.  Expresses  the  Greek  for  a  race-course,  from 
hippos,  a  horse,  and  dromos,  a  course. 

Hippocras.  A  cordial  of  spiced  wine,  so  called  by  the 
apothecaries  because  it  was  supposed  to  have  been 
made  from  the  prescription  of  Hippocrates,  the 
Father  of  Medicine. 

His  Nibs.  A  corruption  of  "  His  Nobs  " ;  used  ironically 
for  "  His  Highness "  in  reference  to  a  parvenu  or  a 
conceited  upstart. 

Hispania.     See  "  Spain." 

Hoboken.     Indian  for  the  "smoke  pipe,"  or  pipe  of  peace. 


Hobson's  Choice — Hocus-pocus     143 

This  was  the  place  where  the  chiefs  first  met  the  white 
settlers,  and  while  passing  round  the  calumet  entered 
into  a  friendly  treaty. 

Hobson's  Choice.  In  the  seventeenth  century  Tobias 
Hobson  kept  a  livery  stable  at  Cambridge.  When  the 
students  at  the  University  wished  to  hire  a  horse  for  the 
day  he  led  out  the  occupant  of  the  first  stall.  If  they 
demurred,  he  said  abruptly:  "It's  this  one  or  none." 
So  Hobson's  choice  settled  the  question. 

Hock.  The  general  name  for  Rhenish  wines,  but  properly 
that  made  at  Hockheim  on  the  Maine. 

Hockey.  Expresses  the  diminutive  of  hook,  the  club  used 
in  this  game  being  only  slightly  hooked  at  the  end. 

Hocking.     See  "  Hock  Tuesday." 

Hockley.  Anglo-Saxon  for  a  miry  field.  Clerkenwell  was 
at  one  time  called  "  Hockley-in-the-Hole,"  after  a  bear 
garden  dating  from  the  Restoration  period. 

Hock  Tuesday.  Anciently  a  high  festival  throughout 
England,  in  commemoration  for  the  final  expulsion 
of  the  Danes,  who  had  ravaged  the  eastern  portions 
of  our  country  for  more  than  two  centuries.  This 
occurred  on  Easter  Tuesday  1074.  Most  of  the 
Danes  were  slaughtered  off-hand  by  first  hamstringing, 
or  cutting  their  hams  or  houghs,  which  prevented 
them  from  making  for  their  boats ;  hence  the  term 
Hock  for  the  festival.  The  English  landlords  levied 
what  was  called  "Hock  Money"  on  this  day  from 
their  tenants,  in  return  for  which  they  treated  them  to 
a  good  supper.  In  modern  times  people  stopped 
pedestrians  in  the  streets  with  ropes,  and  declined  to 
release  them  until  they  had  parted  with  hock  money. 

Hocus-pocus.  The  gibberish  of  a  conjurer  when  performing 
his  tricks ;  said  to  have  been  derived  from  one  Ochus 
Bochus,  a  celebrated  wizard  of  Northern  Europe,  three 
centuries  ago.  The  early  conjurers  were  thought  to  use 
these  words  as  an  invocation  to  this  magician.  Nowa- 
days our  sleight-of-hand  professors  dispense  with  words, 
and  fire  off  a  pistol,  doubtless  to  prove  that  they  can 
do  the  trick  in  a  crack. 


144  Hodge — Holies  Street 

Hodge.  The  generic  name  for  a  farm  labourer  j  a  corrup- 
tion of  Hedger. 

Hoist  with  his  own  Petard.  Caught  in  his  own  trap, 
blown  up  with  his  own  engine  of  destruction.  The 
petard  was  an  ancient  infernal  engine  filled  with  gun- 
powder; he  who  fired  it  stood  in  great  danger  of 
sacrificing  his  own  life. 

Holborn.  Anciently  spelt  "Holeburne,"  the  bourn  or 
stream  in  a  hollow.  This  was  the  River  Fleet,  which 
had  an  outlet  into  the  Thames.  Further  north,  in 
Clerkenwell,  it  was  called  "the  River  of  Wells." 

Holborn  Bars.     The  western  limits  of  the  city  of  London. 

Hold  hard.  This  exclamation,  when  the  advice  really 
means  to  stop  or  "leave  go,"  sounds  ridiculous.  It 
originally  meant,  as  it  still  does  in  the  Emerald  Isle, 
to  keep  a  firm  hold  with  both  hands  on  the  back  rail 
of  an  Irish  jaunting  car  lest  the  rider  might  be  thrown 
out  of  it. 

Hole  in  the  Wall.  A  tavern  sign,  derived  from  the  fact 
that  this  house  was  originally  approached  either 
through  an  opening  made  in  the  ancient  city  wall 
or  else  through  another  house  that  stood  in  front 
of  it. 

Holiday.  The  modern  form  of  "Holy  Day,"  expressive  of 
a  great  feast  in  the  Church  calendar. 

Holland.  From  the  Danish  ollant,  "marshy  ground."  The 
linen  cloth  of  the  same  name  was  first  made  in 
Holland. 

Holland  Road.  From  Holland  House,  the  residence  of 
Henry  Rich,  Earl  of  Holland,  temp.  Charles  I.  By 
his  marriage  with  the  Dowager  Countess  of  Warwick, 
widow  of  Lord  Holland,  in  1710,  Joseph  Addison 
became  nominally  master  of  this  noble  mansion,  and 
here  he  died. 

Hollands.     See  "  Gin." 

Holies  Street.     In  the  West  End,  after  John  Holies,  the 


Hollo  way — Holy  rood  Palace      145 

last  Duke  of  Newcastle,  whose  only  daughter  by  her 
marriage  carried  the  entire  estate  hereabouts  into  the 
possession  of  the  Harleys.  In  Drury  Lane,  the  name 
given  by  Gilbert,  Earl  of  Clare,  whose  house  stood 
in  what  became  Clare  Market,  in  honour  of  his  uncle, 
Denzil,  Lord  Holies,  temp.  Charles  I. 

Holloway.  At  one  time  a  miry  highway  in  a  hollow 
between  Highbury  and  Highgate. 

Holloway  College.  Founded  in  1883  for  the  higher 
education  of  women  at  Egham,  Surrey,  by  Thomas 
Holloway,  the  pioneer  of  modern  advertising  on  a 
lavish  scale. 

Hollyhock.  A  species  of  mallow,  called  by  the  Anglo- 
Saxon  hoc,  and  first  brought  to  Europe  from  the  Holy 
Land.     Hence  holy-hoc. 

Holly  Village.  A  modern  settlement  at  Highgate  founded 
by  the  Baroness  Burdett  Coutts-Bartlett  but  a  short 
distance  removed  from  her  rural  retreat  known  as 
Holly  Lodge. 

Holy  Boys.  The  regimental  nickname  of  the  9th  Foot, 
because  they  sacked  monasteries  and  sold  Bibles  in 
the  street  during  the  Peninsular  War. 

Holy  Cross  Day.  Otherwise  the  "  Feast  of  the  Exalta- 
tion of  the  Cross,"  14th  September,  commemorates, 
the  restoration  of  the  Cross  of  Christ  to  Jerusalem, 
a.d.  628. 

Holy  Land.  Palestine,  the  scene  of  the  birth,  life 
labours,  and  death  of  the  Redeemer. 

Holy  Maid  of  Kent.  The  name  given  to  Elizabeth 
Barton,  a  poor  Kentish  servant  girl,  who,  subject  to 
trances,  foretold  events,  and  afterwards  entered  a 
convent  at  Canterbury.  Her  fame  as  a  religious 
enthusiast  increased,  until,  for  pronouncing  sentence 
against  the  divorce  of  Queen  Catherine  of  Aragon, 
she,  in  company  with  five  monks,  was  hanged  at 
Tyburn. 

Holyrood  Palace.     This  residence  of  the  ancient  kings  of 


146  H  oly  well — H  oney  moon 

Scotland  grew  out  of  the  Abbey  of  the  Holy  Rood 
built  by  David  I.  as  the  permanent  abode  of  the 
Black  Rood,  brought  to  Scotland  by  St  Margaret  in 
1070.  This  precious  relic  was  a  piece  of  the  true 
cross  set  in  gold  and  ebony.  It  fell  into  the  hands 
of  the  English  at  the  battle  of  Neville's  Cross  in  1344, 
after  which  all  trace  of  it  was  lost.  James  II.  was 
born  at  Holyrood;  here  too  he  was  buried.  The 
foundations  of  the  new  palace  were  laid  by  James  IV. 
in  1500. 

Holywell.  From  the  miraculous  well  of  St  Winifred  in 
Flintshire,  the  scene  of  her  martyrdom. 

Holywell  Lane.  Here,  in  Shoreditch,  stood  an  ancient 
Priory  of  Nuns  of  St  John  the  Baptist,  in  the  grounds 
of  which  a  "  sweet,  holy  well "  was  discovered. 

Holywell  Street.  This  now  vanished  thoroughfare,  east  of 
the  Strand,  received  its  name  from  a  Holy  Well  close 
to  the  Church  of  St  Clement  Danes.  That  in 
Westminster  marks  the  site  of  the  town  house  of  the 
Grosvenors,  whose  rural  estates  lay  around  "  Holy- 
well "  in  Flintshire. 

Homely.  An  Americanism  for  " plain,"  "ugly;"  applied 
to  persons  only. 

Home  Office.  The  official  department  of  the  Secretary  for 
Home — i.e.,  internal,  Affairs. 

Homerton.  A  corruption  of  "Heimathton,"  which  ex- 
pressed the  town  that  grew  out  of  the  Saxon  village 
styled  Heimath)  "home"  or  "native  country." 

Honduras.     Spanish  for  "  deep  water." 

Honey  Lane.  In  this  lane  stood  an  ancient  market-house 
or  hall  for  the  sale  of  honey.  Owing  to  the  dearness 
of  sugar  prior  to  the  discovery  of  America  and  the 
colonisation  of  the  West  Indies,  honey  was  in  general 
request. 

Honeymoon.  From  the  custom  of  the  Scandinavians,  who 
drank  Hydromel,  or  diluted  honey,  for  thirty  days 
after  a  marriage  feast. 


Honiton  Lace — Hooter  147 

Honiton  Lace.  A  superior  kind  of  "  Pillow  Lace  "  made  at 
Honiton  in  Devonshire.  This  industry  was  introduced 
into  England  by  the  Lollards,  temp.  Elizabeth. 

Honor  Oak.  From  the  famous  boundary  oak  beneath 
which  Queen  Elizabeth  once  dined.  Prior  to  that 
event  it  bore  the  name  of  Gospel  Oak,  under  whose 
shade,  in  common  with  all  other  parish  boundary  oaks, 
the  Gospel  was  read  there  once  a  year. 

Hoodlum.  A  street  rough,  originally  a  product  of  San 
Francisco,  but  now  common  in  New  York  and  most 
cities  of  the  American  Union.  The  origin  of  the  term 
was  thus  accounted  for  by  The  Congregationalism 
26th  September  1877:  "A  newspaper  man  in  San 
Francisco,  in  attempting  to  coin  a  word  to  designate  a 
gang  of  young  street  Arabs  under  the  beck  of  one 
named  '  Muldoon,'  hit  upon  the  idea  of  dubbing  them 
Noodlums — that  is,  simply  reversing  the  leader's  name. 
In  writing  the  word  the  strokes  of  the  N  did  not 
correspond  in  height,  and  the  compositor,  taking  the 
N  for  an  H,  printed  it  Hoodlum.  '  Hoodlum '  it  is, 
and  probably  ever  will  be." 

Hoodman  Blind.  The  ancient  form  of  the  game  of  "Blind 
Man's  Buff."  Instead  of  being  bandaged  the  Blind 
Man  had  the  hood,  which  everyone  wore,  drawn  over 
his  eyes. 

Hook  it.     A  variant  of  "  Sling  your  Hook." 

Hook  of  Holland.  From  the  Dutch  hoek,  a  cape,  a  corner. 
The  same  perverted  designation  obtained  in  all  the 
early  Dutch  settlements  of  New  York  State,  notably 
"Sandy  Hook." 

Hooligan.  A  London  rough.  This  term  is  of  quite  modern 
date,  and  clearly  an  adaptation  of  that  which  has 
become  common  all  over  the  United  States.  See 
"Hoodlum." 

Hooter.  A  United  States  corruption  of  iota.  The  people 
of  New  York  State  in  particular  are  addicted  to  the 
saying  :  "  I  don't  care  a  hooter  whether  I  do  or  not." 
"This  note  isn't  worth  a  hooter,"  etc. 


148    Hoosier  State— Horse  Marines 

Hoosier  State.  Indiana,  from  the  nickname  given  to  its 
people.  "Hoosier"  is  really  a  corruption  of  Husher, 
touching  the  power  of  a  bully  to  silence  a  stranger. 
The  Hoosiers  are  noted  for  their  brusque  manners. 
The  state  is  also  called  "  Hoosierdom." 

Hopkinsians.  An  American  Calvinistic  sect  named  after 
their  founder,  Samuel  Hopkins  of  Connecticut. 

Hornbill.  A  bird  distinguished  for  a  horny  excrescence  on 
its  bill. 

Horn  Book.  A  primitive  text-book  for  children.  It  was 
really  no  book  at  all,  but  a  piece  of  paper  containing 
the  alphabet,  the  nine  digits,  and  at  times  the  Lord's 
Prayer,  mounted  on  a  small  flat  board,  over  which  was 
stretched  a  transparent  sheet  of  horn;  below  was  a 
handle  to  hold  it  by. 

Hornpipe.  A  lively  sailor's  dance,  which  had  its  origin  in 
the  west  of  England  to  the  accompaniment  of  a  Welsh 
musical  instrument  of  the  same  name  composed  of  a 
wooden  pipe  with  a  horn  at  each  end. 

Hornsey.  A  corruption  of  "  Harringsey,"  a  watered 
meadow  of  hares. 

Horse  Chestnut.  Some  say  this  term  is  a  corruption  of 
"  Coarse  Chestnut,"  in  contradistinction  to  the  edible 
chestnut;  others  that  these  chestnuts  were  formerly 
ground  up  and  given  to  horses  for  food. 

Horseferry  Road.  Where  horses  were  conveyed  across  the 
Thames  on  a  ferry  boat  in  bygone  times. 

Horse  Latitudes.  A  portion  of  the  Atlantic  distinguished 
for  its  tedious  calms,  where  old  navigators  were  wont 
to  throw  overboard  the  horses  they  had  to  transport 
to  the  West  Indies  in  order  to  lighten  the  ship. 

Horsleydown.  A  corruption  of  "  Horsadown  " ;  formerly  a 
down  or  hilly  ground  used  for  grazing  horses. 

Horse  Marines.  There  can  be  no  Horse  Marines ;  but 
the  17  th  Lancers  were  at  one  time  made  to  bear  this 
opprobrious  nickname  from  the  circumstance  that  two 


Horse  Shoe — Houndsditch        149 

men  of  this  regiment  had  originally  served  as  Marines 
on  board  the  Hermione  in  the  West  Indies. 

Horse  Shoe.  A  large  public-house  at  the  Oxford  Street  end 
of  Tottenham  Court  Road,  this  sign  being  derived  from 
the  trade  mark  of  Messrs  Meux's  brewery  adjoining. 

Hose.     From  the  Icelandic  hosa,  stocking. 

Hosier  Lane.     From  the  hosiers  who  congregated  in  it. 

Hospice.  From  the  Latin  hospes,  a  stranger,  guest.  This 
term  is  now  confined  to  an  Alpine  retreat  for  the  re- 
ception of  travellers.  Elsewhere  the  French  word 
Hospital  obtains  for  any  establishment  set  apart  for 
the  temporary  accommodation  of  the  poor.  Formerly, 
however,  it  implied  a  lazar-house  or  a  refuge  for  fallen 
women ;  in  its  modern  sense  a  hospital  is  exclusively 
an  institution  for  the  sick  poor. 

Hospice  of  St  Bernard.     See  "  Bernardine  Hospice." 

Hospital.     See  "  Hospice." 

Hostelry.  From  the  old  French  hostellerie,  an  inn,  through 
the  Latin  kospes,  a  stranger,  a  guest.  The  modern 
French  form  is  "Hotel,"  which  implies  not  only  an 
establishment  for  the  entertainment  of  travellers,  but 
also  a  superior  house  or  palace. 

Hotel.     See  "Hostelry." 

Hotel  des  Invalides.  A  magnificent  establishment  in  Paris, 
originally  designed  as  an  asylum  for  invalided  and 
disabled  soldiers  by  Henry  IV.  in  1596.  Prior  to 
that  time  no  provision  existed  for  warriors  who  had 
spent  their  best  energies  in  their  country's  service  save 
the  charity  of  the  monastic  institutions. 

Hotspur.  The  surname  of  Harry  Percy,  on  account  of  his 
mad  courage  when  mounted  on  his  charger.  A  man 
of  fiery,  ungovernable  temper  is  said  to  be  "  a  regular 
Hotspur." 

Houndsditch.  The  dry  ditch  outside  the  city  wall  which 
was  made  the  receptacle  for  all  kinds  of  refuse,  and 
dead  dogs  in  particular. 


150      Houp  la — Hudibrastic  Verse 

Houp  la.  This  exclamation  on  the  part  of  a  circus  ring- 
master as  the  signal  for  an  equestrienne  to  leap  over 
horizontal  barriers  or  through  paper  hoops  has  been 
derived  from  the  Californian  stage  drivers'  ejaculation 
to  their  horses. 

Housemaids'  Knee.  Housemaids  are  specially  liable  to 
this  affection  of  the  sac  under  the  knee-pan  through 
kneeling  on  hard  or  damp  floors. 

House  of  Keys.  The  Representative  Council  of  the  Isle 
of  Man,  so  called  from  the  Manx  Kiare-as-feed,  four 
and  twenty,  this  being  the  number  appointed  by 
statute  to  form  the  "  Court  of  Tynwald."  Tynwald  is 
an  artificial  mound  in  the  centre  of  the  island  whence 
a  new  law  has  from  time  immemorial  been  promulgated. 

Housewarming.  The  name  given  to  a  party  or  reception 
of  guests  on  taking  possession  of  a  newly  built  mansion. 
This  was  of  old  a  winter  function,  when  the  lighting  of 
large  fires  in  all  the  rooms  for  the  occasion  proved 
serviceable  in  drying  the  plastered  walls  and  ceilings. 

Howard  Street.  From  the  town  house  and  grounds  of  the 
Howards,  Dukes  of  Norfolk  and  Earls  of  Arundel  and 
Surrey,  that  stood  on  the  large  plot  of  ground  now 
covered  by  the  four  streets  bearing  these  names. 

Howitzer.  A  German  cannon,  properly  called  a  haubitze, 
from  the  Bohemian  term  haufnice,  a  sling. 

Hoxton.  Little  more  than  a  hundred  years  ago  this  district 
bore  the  name  of  Hogsdon  on  account  of  the  great 
number  of  pigs  bred  here.  Hog  Lane  still  exists  off 
the  High  Street. 

Hub.  The  proud  pet  name  of  the  city  of  Boston,  the  social 
centre  of  the  United  States,  in  the  same  sense  as  the 
hub  is  a  centre  for  a  wheel.  The  origin  of  the  term  is 
ascribed  to  Dr  Oliver  Wendell  Holmes  who,  in  one  of 
his  books  spoke  of  the  State  House  at  Boston  as  "  the 
hub  of  the  solar  system." 

Hudibrastic  Verse.  That  which  is  in  imitation  of  the 
measure  and  doggerel  style  of  Samuel  Butler's 
"  Hudibras." 


Hudson  River — Humbug  151 

Hudson  River.  After  Captain  Henry  Hudson,  who  dis- 
covered it  in  1609.  A  year  later,  when  searching  for  a 
north-west  passage,  he  navigated  the  bay  and  the 
strait  named  in  his  honour. 

Huggin  Lane.  After  Hugan,  a  wealthy  citizen  who  resided 
here,  temp.  Edward  I. 

Huguenots.  The  name  borne  by  the  adherents  of  the 
Reformation  in  France,  after  Hugh,  a  Genevese 
Calvinist,  their  leader,  and  the  German  eidgenossen, 
confederates. 

Hull.  From  the  river  upon  which  it  stands.  Its  ancient 
name  was  Kingston-upon-Hull,  a  town  founded  by 
Edward  I.  in  1299. 

Hull  Cheese.  A  strong  ale  for  which  the  "  Good  Old 
Town  of  Hull "  was  at  one  time  famous.  To  "  eat 
Hull  cheese  "  was  to  get  incontinently  drunk. 

Hull,  Hell,  and  Halifax.  In  olden  times,  before  Kingston- 
upon-Hull  could  be  approached  direct  from  the 
Humber,  the  River  Hull  was  navigable,  as  now,  only 
at  high  water,  and  even  then  it  required  very  skilful 
pilotage  on  account  of  the  many  sandbanks  at  its 
mouth ;  it  was  therefore  dreaded  by  seafaring  men. 
Taylor,  the  Water  Poet,  wrote :  "  From  Hull,  Hell,  and 
Halifax,  good  Lord,  deliver  us  !  -  The  reference  to 
Halifax  arose  out  of  the  knowledge  that  in  his  day  a 
man  could  be  executed  there  for  stealing  property  to 
the  value  of  thirteen  pence  halfpenny.  See  "Halifax 
Gibbet  Law." 

Humanitarians.  Those  who  believe  in  the  complete 
humanity  of  Christ,  namely — that  He  was  capable  of 
committing  sin  like  any  other  mortal. 

Humble  Bee.     A  corruption  of  "Humming  Bee." 

Humbug.  The  old  mode  of  expressing  approbation  of  a 
speech  or  at  the  play  was  by  humming,  but  since  the 
sincerity  of  this  form  of  applause  could  not  always  be 
relied  upon,  intermingled  as  it  may  have  been  with 
suppressed   murmurs  of  disapproval,  the  word  Hum 


152      Humming  Bird — Huntingdon 

came  to  be  applied  to  mock  admiration  or  flattery,  in- 
tended only  to  deceive.  Hence  the  saying  :  "That's 
all  hum."  The  added  word  Bug  is  very  old,  signifying 
a  frightful  object,  a  thing  to  be  shunned.  To  humbug 
is  to  deceive ;  to  prefer  candour  to  humbug  is  to  be 
proof  against  flattery. 

Humming  Bird.  So  called  from  the  sound  caused  by  the 
rapid  motion  of  its  wings  in  flight. 

Hummums.  A  hotel  in  Covent  Garden  built  on  the 
site  of  a  Persian  or  Turkish  sweating  bath  so  called  in 
the  seventeenth  century.     The  name  is  Arabic. 

Hundred.  A  Saxon  subdivision  of  the  English  shires  said 
to  have  been  introduced  by  Alfred  the  Great.  Each 
hundred  comprised  a  colony  of  "ten  times  ten  "families 
— that  is  to  say,  ten  divisions  of  ten  freeholders  and 
their  dependents  in  each.  In  all  then  there  were  one 
hundred  champions  to  defend  the  common  cause.  In 
legal  and  ecclesiastical  documents  relative  to  lands 
such  property  is  still  said  to  be  situate  in  a  particular 
"  hundred  "  as  well  as  parish. 

Hungary.  The  country  of  the  Huns,  who  swarmed  over 
from  Asia  and  expelled  the  Goths  from  this  portion  of 
Europe  in  the  fourth  century.  When  first  heard  of  in 
China,  about  a  hundred  years  previous,  the  natives 
designated  them  Hiong-nu,  signifying  "  Giants."  These 
Huns  were  really  the  Mongolian  race  still  known  as 
the  Kalmucks.  The  suffix  gary  is  a  Western  modifica- 
tion of  the  Teutonic  gau,  district  or  country. 

Hungary  Water.  A  perfume,  properly  called  "The  Queen 
of  Hungary's  Water  "  from  the  circumstance  that  the 
recipe  had  been  given  by  a  hermit  to  one  of  the  queens 
of  Hungary. 

Hung  on  Wires.  An  American  expression  for  one  suffer- 
ing from  "nerves,"  a  nervous  or  fidgety  person. 

Huns.     See  "  Hungary." 

Huntingdon.  Expresses  the  shire  most  favoured  for  hunt- 
ing, this  being  anciently  a  vast  deer  forest. 


Hurly  Burly — Hussites  153 

Hurly-burly.  An  expression  derived  from  the  tumult  of 
ancient  warfare,  with  especial  reference  to  the  hurling 
of  spears  and  battle-axes.     The  witches  in  Macbeth  say  : 

"  When  the  hurly-burly's  done, 
When  the  battle's  lost  and  won." 

Huron.  This  lake  was  so  called  by  the  French  settlers  on 
account  of  the  profusion  of  hair  of  the  Indian  tribe, 
the  Wyandots,  whom  they  encountered  on  its  shores. 
Hure  is  French  for  "head  of  hair." 

Hurrah.  This  exclamation  is  from  the  Scandinavian 
Hurra,  said  to  have  been  originally  Thor-aie,  an 
invocation  to  the  god  Thor  for  aid  in  battle,  just  as 
the  battle  cry  of  the  Normans  was  Ha-Rou,  in  honour 
of  Rollo. 

Hurricane.  From  the  West  Indian  urican,  "a  violent 
wind."  The  word  was  introduced  to  Europe  by  sea- 
men, and  so  became  incorporated  in  various  languages. 

Hurry  up.  An  exclamation  derived,  both  in  England  and 
America,  from  the  custom  of  eating-house  keepers 
anxious  to  expedite  the  service  from  the  kitchens 
below  stairs. 

Husbands'  Boat.  The  steamboat  by  which  city  men  and 
others  go  down  to  Margate  for  the  week-end  holiday 
in  order  to  join  their  families  who  are  staying  there 
for  the  season. 

Hussar.  Expresses  the  Hungarian  for  a  "twenty-paid 
soldier" — husz  meaning  twenty,  and  ar  the  price  of. 
When  Matthias  Corvinus  ascended  the  throne  of  the 
Magyars  he  decreed  that,  in  order  to  provide  a  regular 
cavalry,  each  twenty  families  must  enrol  and  equip  one 
mounted  soldier  free  of  all  cost  to  the  State.  An 
interesting  point  in  connection  with  the  uniform  of 
the  Hussar  regiments  everywhere  was  that  they 
always  allowed  the  right  sleeve  of  the  upper  jacket  to 
hang  loose  on  their  backs.  This  was  only  in  keeping 
with  the  general  custom  of  the  Magyar  peasantry,  who 
had  the  right  arm  free  on  all  occasions. 
Hussites.  The  Protestants  of  Bohemia,  after  John  Huss, 
the  Reformer. 


154  Hussy — Iberia 

Hussy.  A  corruption  of  "housewife."  The  epithet  now 
implies  a  slatternly  sort  of  woman. 

Hustings.  The  ancient  name  for  the  Court  of  Aldermen 
in  the  city  of  London.  In  modern  days  it  came  to 
imply  the  platform  from  which  candidates  for  election 
delivered  their  addresses  to  the  populace.  The  word 
Hus ting  expressed  the  Anglo-Saxon  for  a  council-house: 
from  the  Scandinavian  hus,  house,  and  things  an  as- 
sembly. 

Hustler.  An  Americanism  for  a  smart,  energetic  trades- 
man, more  especially  a  caterer  or  restaurateur,  who 
hustles  about  and  never  keeps  his  customers  waiting. 
The  word  "Hustle"  comes  from  the  Dutch  hutselen, 
to  shake  together  or  to  and  fro. 

Hyacinth.  According  to  the  Greek  fable  this  flower 
sprang  from  the  blood  of  the  beautiful  youth  Hya- 
cinthus,  who,  having  aroused  the  jealousy  of  Zephyr, 
received  his  death-blow  at  her  hands  by  casting 
Apollo's  quoit  at  his  head. 

Hyde  Park.  Anciently  described  as  the  Hyde  Manor 
belonging  to  the  Abbots  of  St  Peter's,  Westminster. 

Hyde  Park  Corner.  Of  old  the  western  extremity  of 
London,  denned  by  a  toll  gate. 

Hydro.     Short  for  a  hydropathic  establishment. 

Hythe.     From  the  Anglo-Saxon  hit  he,  a  haven. 


Iambic  Verse.  Poetical  satires  written  in  Iambics,  or  two- 
syllable  foot  measure,  were  originally  so  called  after 
Iambe,  an  attendant  upon  one  of  the  queens  of  Sparta, 
who  kept  a  commonplace  book  of  lively,  free,  and 
satirical  pieces. 

Iberia.  The  ancient  name  of  Spain,  from  the  Iberi,  its 
original  inhabitants.  These  were  maritime  adven- 
turers from  Phoenicia  who  penetrated  the  country  by 


Iceland — II  Furioso  155 

way  of  the  River  Ebro.  When  in  course  of  time  the 
Celts  descended  upon  them  from  the  Pyrenees,  they 
spread  themselves  to  the  south  and  west.  On  reach- 
ing the  sea  at  the  farthest  limit  of  their  wanderings 
they  imagined  themselves  at  the  end  of  the  world,  and 
so  gave  the  name  of  Iber,  a  Phoenician  word  of  that 
import,  to  the  country.  Its  principal  eastern  river,  the 
Ebro,  retains  the  original  name. 

Iceland.  So  called  because  its  north  and  west  coasts  are 
generally  blocked  with  ice  that  has  drifted  down  from 
Greenland. 

Iceland  Moss.  A  lichen  indigenous  to  Iceland  and  Green- 
land which  is  said  to  be  very  efficacious  in  the 
treatment  of  consumption. 

Ice  Plant.  Found  in  South  Africa,  and  so  called  on 
account  of  its  glittering,  watery  vesicles  which  give  it 
the  appearance  of  being  covered  with  ice. 

Ich  Dien.  German  for  "  I  serve."  The  motto  assumed  by 
Edward  the  Black  Prince  after  he  found  it  under  the 
plume  of  John,  King  of  Bohemia,  slain  by  him  at  the 
battle  of  Cressy. 

Iconoclast.  An  image  breaker,  from  the  Greek  eikon,  image, 
and  klazo,  I  break. 

Idolater.  From  the  Greek  eidolon,  a  figure,  and  latres, 
worshipper.  The  root  of  this  word,  eidein,  to  see, 
furnishes  the  key  to  its  true  meaning.  An  idolater 
is  one  who  worships  that  which  he  sees,  not  on 
account  of  its  intrinsic  worth,  but  because  it  is  a 
visible  representation,  or  it  may  be  merely  a  symbol, 
of  the  deity  that  he  is  taught  to  venerate. 

Idol  Lane.  Said  to  be  a  corruption  of  Idle  Lane,  because 
this  was  perhaps  the  only  thoroughfare  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood not  given  up  to  business — i.e.  either  as  a 
market  or  a  hive  of  industrious  artisans. 

II  Bassano.     See  "Bassano." 

II  Furioso.     The  sobriquet  of  Jacopo  Robusti,  better  known 


156  Iliad— In  Clover 

as  "Tintoretto,"  owing  to  the  rapidity  with  which  he 
turned  out  his  wonderful  paintings. 

Iliad.  The  title  of  Homer's  epic  treating  of  the  destruc- 
tion of  Troy ;  originally  called  Illium,  after  I/os,  the 
founder  of  the  city. 

I'll  be  through  directly.  An  Americanism  for  "  I'll  be 
ready  very  soon,"  or  "  I'll  have  it  finished  directly." 

Illinois.  The  Indian  Mini,  men,  with  the  French  suffix 
oix,  a  tribe. 

Ill  take  my  Davy  on  it.  The  word  "Davy"  is  a  corrup- 
tion of  "affidavit." 

II  Perugino.  The  better-known  name  of  the  celebrated 
Italian  artist  Pietro  Vanucci,  who,  born  at  Citta  della 
Pieve  in  Umbria,  established  himself  and  remained 
all  his  life  in  the  neighbouring  city  of  Perugia. 

II  Tintoretto.     See  "Tintoretto." 

Imperial.  The  name  given  to  the  once  fashionable  chin 
tuft,  after  Napoleon  III.,  who  was  the  first  to  wear  his 
beard  in  this  diminutive  fashion. 

In  a  Crack.  Done  instantly,  in  no  more  time  than  it  takes 
for  a  gun  to  go  off. 

In  a  Jiffy.  The  word  "jiffy"  is  a  corruption  of  the  now 
obsolete  gliff—i.e.  a  mere  glance. 

Inch  of  Candle.  In  some  parts  of  the  country  land  is  still 
disposed  of  at  auction  by  inch  of  candle.  This  was 
the  ancient  form  of  auctioneering.  Candles  of  inch 
length  were  provided,  and  when  the  candle  went  out 
the  bidding  was  closed. 

Inchcolm.  Expresses  the  inch  or  isle  of  St  Columba,  who 
dwelt  here  while  labouring  to  convert  the  Picts  to 
Christianity. 

In  Clover.  In  a  contented  frame  of  mind  because  pro- 
vided with  everything  necessary  for  the  time  being. 
Cattle  always  make  for  the  clover  when  turned  out  to 
graze. 


Incog. — Indians  of  North  America    157 

Incog.  Short  for  Incognito,  an  Italian  word  signifying  ' '  not 
known."  Royal  personages  desirous  of  avoiding 
ceremony  often  travel  incogs  or  under  an  assumed 
title. 

Independence  Day.  The  fourth  of  July,  in  commemora- 
tion of  the  American  Declaration  of  Independence, 
1776. 

Independents.     The  same  as  "  Congregationalists." 

India.  From  the  Indus  or  Hindus,  a  Persian  corruption 
of  the  Sanskrit  Sindhu,  "great  river."  By  the  Greeks 
this  river  was  known  as  the  Hindus,  which  with  the 
Persian  suffix  stan  gave  the  name  "  Hindustan  "  to  the 
whole  country.  In  the  time  of  Columbus,  and  long 
afterwards,  the  Asiatic  continent  east  of  the  Ganges 
was  generally  styled  India.  This  accounts  for  such 
names  as  "Indian  Ink,"  etc.,  products  really  of  the 
Far  East. 

Indiana.  From  the  great  number  of  Indians  that  overran 
this  state  in  the  early  days  of  its  history. 

Indianapolis.  The  capital  of  the  state  of  Indiana.  Potts 
is  Greek  for  city. 

Indian  Corn.     Maize,  brought  fom  the  West  Indies. 

Indian  File.  A  march  in  single  file,  as  is  the  custom  of 
the  North  American  Indians. 

Indian  Gift.  A  reclaimed  present.  When  a  North 
American  Indian  gives  anything  he  expects  a  gift 
equivalent  in  value,  or  else  his  own  back  again. 

Indian  Ink.  Originally  brought  from  China,  but  now 
made  from  lamp-black  and  animal  glue  in  England. 
See  "India." 

Indian  Liquor.     See  "  Indian  Whisky." 

Indian  Reservation.  A  considerable  tract  of  land  on  the 
plains  reserved  for  the  Indian  tribes. 

Indians  of  North  America.  When  Columbus  discovered 
the  "New  World"  he  was  under  the  impression  that 
he  had  happened  on  that  vast  tract  of  country  east  of 


158         Indian  Summer — Infante 

the  Ganges  vaguely  known  as  India.  This  shows 
that,  sailing  westward  as  he  did,  he  must  have  re- 
garded the  earth  as  a  globe. 

Indian  Summer.  The  equivalent  of  what  is  called  St 
Martin's  Summer  in  England.  The  North  American 
Indians  always  avail  themselves  of  the  pleasant  weather 
during  the  early  part  of  November  for  harvesting  their 
corn ;  they  say  there  is  an  unfailing  nine  days'  second 
summer  just  before  the  winter  sets  in. 

Indian  Whisky.  The  name  given  to  specially  adulterated 
whisky  for  sale  to  the  Indians  of  North  America. 

India  Paper.  A  special  kind  of  paper,  made  of  vegetable 
fibre  in  China  and  Japan,  on  which  the  first  impres- 
sions, called  India  proof,  of  engravings  are  taken. 
See  "  India." 

India  Proof.     See  "  India  Paper." 

India-rubber.  Caoutchouc,  first  imported  from  China, 
but  now  found  elsewhere.     See  "  India." 

India-rubber  Railway  Sandwich.  The  typical  refreshment- 
room  sandwich,  the  bread  slices  of  which  are  as  a  rule 
so  stale  that  they  defy  hasty  mastication. 

Indigo.  A  blue  dye  prepared  from  the  Indicus,  or  Indian 
plant. 

Industrial  Schools.  Also  known  as  Ragged  Schools,  of 
which  the  scholars  are  waifs  and  strays  brought  to- 
gether for  the  acquirement  of  some  useful  industry. 

Infra.  Latin  for  below,  beneath.  A  word  very  generally 
met  with  in  library  catalogues:  "See  Infra."  It  is 
the  antithesis  of  Supra,  above. 

Infra  Dig.  Short  for  Infra  Dignitatem,  which  expresses 
the  Latin  for  "beneath  one's  dignity." 

Infant.     In  law,  any  person  under  the  age  of  twenty-one. 

Infanta.  The  title  of  princesses  of  the  royal  blood  in 
Spain  and  Portugal,  except  the  heiress-apparent. 

Infante.  The  corresponding  title  of  the  sons  of  the  kings 
of  Spain  and  Portugal. 


Infant  Roscius— Innocents'  Day     159 

Infant  Roscius.  William  Henry  Betty,  the  celebrated  boy 
actor,  named  after  the  greatest  historian  of  antiquity. 
His  public  career  was  brief— viz.  five  years  only,  1803- 
j8o8 — but  during  that  period  he  became  the  rage  j  so 
much  so,  that  while  at  Covent  Garden,  where  he  re- 
ceived a  salary  of  fifty  guineas  a  night,  the  military 
had  to  be  called  out  to  maintain  order. 

Infantry.  Foot  soldiers,  so  called,  not  because,  like 
children,  they  have  to  be  trained  to  walk,  but  for  the 
reason  that  one  of  the  Infantes  of  Spain  collected  a 
body  of  armed  men,  unmounted,  to  rescue  his  father, 
the  King,  from  captivity  at  the  hands  of  the  Moors. 
Afterwards  foot  soldiers  in  Spain  and  Italy  received 
the  name  of  Enfanteria. 

Infirmary.  The  older  and  more  correct  description  of  an 
institution  for  the  sick  and  infirm.     See  "  Hospice." 

Inn.  The  Anglo-Saxon  word  Inne  expressed  a  mansion. 
The  Inns  of  Court  were  originally  the  town  houses  of 
noble  families,  whose  name  they  still  bear — e.g.  Gray's 
Inn.  Our  first  inns  set  apart  for  the  entertainment 
of  travellers  were  in  all  cases  the  mansions  of  the 
nobility  left  in  charge  of  the  trusted  servant,  the 
gamekeeper,  during  the  prolonged  absence,  either  in 
the  wars  at  home  or  in  the  Crusades  abroad,  of  their 
owners.  The  family  arms  served  as  a  sign.  After 
the  return  of  his  master  the  servant,  now  an  inn- 
keeper, set  up  an  inn  of  his  own  contiguous  to  the 
original,  and  adopted  the  same  sign.  Here  we  have 
an  explanation  of  such  grotesque  inn  signs — now  that 
their  names  have  taken  the  place  of  the  painted  device 
— as  the  Blue  Boar,  the  Red  Lion,  etc.  At  times 
the  innkeeper  preferred  the  sign  of  the  "Green  Man." 

Innocents'  Day.  December  28th,  commemorating  the 
massacre  of  the  Holy  Innocents  by  Herod.  Anciently 
children  were  soundly  whipped  in  their  beds  before 
rising  on  this  day.  Being  undeserving  of  such 
punishment,  they  were  taught  to  suffer  pain  for 
Christ's  sake. 


160       Inns  of  Court — In  the  Soup 

Inns  of  Court.     See  "  Inn." 

In  Quad.  This  is  not  altogether  thieves'  slang,  though 
the  gipsy  word  for  prison  is  quaid.  Boys  at  our  public 
schools  say  they  are  "in  quad"  when  they  are  con- 
fined to  their  own  quadrangle.  The  phrase  became 
popular  in  connection  with  a  prison  when  debtors 
were  confined  in  the  Fleet,  the  Marshalsea,  and  White- 
cross  Street,  because  they  were  free  to  receive  visitors 
in  the  exercise  court  or  quadrangle. 

Insect.  From  the  root  seco,  to  cut,  because  this  tiny  species 
of  the  animal  world  is,  as  it  were,  cut  deeply  into  three 
distinct  parts  :  the  head,  thorax,  and  abdomen. 

Interlaken.  The  Swiss  village  situated  "between  the 
lakes  "  Brienz  and  Thun. 

In  the  Jug.  Slang  for  "in  prison."  The  term  is  derived 
from  the  Scottish  Joitg,  a  kind  of  iron  yoke  or  pillory 
for  the  head  designed  for  the  punishment  of  rogues 
and  vagabonds.  When  at  a  later  period  a  round 
house  of  stone  was  set  up  in  the  market-place  for  such 
offenders,  this  earliest  prison  was  popularly  called 
"The  Stone  Jug." 

In  the  Nick  of  Time.  This  expression  originated  in  the 
nicks  or  notches  made  in  a  piece  of  wood  called  a 
Tally,  both  as  an  acknowledgment  of  money  paid 
and  by  way  of  registering  a  person's  arrival  at  a  place 
of  assembly.  If,  in  the  latter  case,  he  arrived  late,  his 
tally  would  not  be  nicked,  as  evidence  of  having  put 
in  an  appearance. 

In  the  Odour  of  Sanctity.  The  ancient  idea  was  that  the 
bodies  of  saints  after  death  emitted  a  peculiar  fragrant 
odour.  This  originated  in  the  profuse  employment  of 
incense  at  the  administration  of  the  last  solemn  rites 
of  the  Viaticum. 

In  the  Soup.  An  Americanism  for  "out  of  the  running." 
This  had  reference  originally  to  the  hunting  field  when 
a  rider  was  pitched  into  a  ditch  of  foul  water  after 
leaping  a  hedge. 


In  the  Stone  Jug — Inverary      161 

In  the  Stone  Jug.     See  "  In  the  Jug." 

In  the  Straw.  An  expression  denoting  that  a  woman  has 
been  brought  to  bed  with  a  child.  Straw  was  the 
usual  stuffing  of  a  bed  formerly  among  the  poorer 
orders  of  the  people. 

In  the  Suds.  An  Americanism  for  being  unprepared  to 
receive  visitors.  The  allusion  is  to  a  washerwoman 
with  her  hands  in  the  soapsuds. 

In  the  Swim.  To  be  admitted  to  a  certain  professional  or 
financial  clique.  River  fish  generally  keep  together, 
and  an  angler's  object  is  to  get  what  he  calls  "  in  the 
swim."  By.  so  doing  he  may  hook  fish  after  fish 
without  difficulty. 

In  the  wrong  Box.  The  origin  of  this  expression  is  simply 
this :  When  Vauxhall,  Cremorne,  Ranelagh,  Highbury 
Barn,  and  similar  alfresco  resorts  were  in  existence, 
they  had  rows  of  cosy  hutches  or  boxes  all  around  for 
the  benefit  of  those  who  wished  to  do  their  courting 
in  private,  while  they  could  at  the  same  time  listen  to 
the  music  and  see  the  illuminations.  It  was  no  easy 
matter  for  anyone  to  find  his  own  box  again  among 
the  many  if  he  left  it;  consequently  on  returning  to 
his  partner  after  sallying  forth,  he  rendered  his  presence 
obnoxious  to  strangers  by  suddenly  finding  himself  in 
the  wrong  box. 

Intrepid  Fox.  A  historic  tavern  in  Soho  named  after 
Charles  James  Fox,  the  great  Whig  Minister.  At  the 
time  of  the  famous  election  of  1784  the  redoubtable 
Sammy  House,  the  landlord,  served  all  customers  free, 
and  also  entertained  several  notable  Whigs. 

Invention  of  the  Cross.  The  name  of  this  Church  festival, 
3rd  May,  commemorative  of  the  finding  of  the  True 
Cross  by  those  sent  in  quest  of  it  by  St  Helena,  sounds 
peculiar,  but  the  word  "invent"  is  really  from  the 
Latin  invenire,  to  find,  discover,  come  upon. 

Inverary.  The  county  town  of  Argyleshire,  "at  the 
mouth  of"  the  River  Aray. 


1 62       Inverness — Iron  Chancellor 

Inverness.     Situate  at  the  mouth  of  the  River  Ness. 

Invincibles.     See  "  Irish  Invincibles." 

Ionia.  The  ancient  name  of  Asia  Minor,  settled  by 
the  lonians,  so  called  after  Ion,  the  son  of  Apollo 
according  to  Greek  fable. 

Ionic.  The  style  of  architecture  so  called  was  peculiar  to 
Ionia  in  Greece.  The  earliest  of  the  Greek  philoso- 
phers so  called  too  were  all  natives  of  Ionia. 

Iota.  From  the  name  of  the  smallest  letter  of  the  Greek 
alphabet.     "  Jot "  is  a  softened  form  of  this  word. 

Iowa.  Indian  for  "  the  sleepy-ones  " ;  applied  by  the  Sioux 
to  the  Pahoja  or  Graysnow  tribe. 

Ireland.  From  lerne,  Gaelic  for  "western  isle."  The 
Greeks,  who  heard  of  it  through  the  Milesians,  called 
this  remote  land  of  the  west  /ernis,  and  the  Romans 
Hibernia. 

Ireland  Yard.  This  property  in  Blackfriars  was  made  over 
by  its  owner,  William  Ireland,  to  Shakespeare,  as 
appears  in  the  deed  of  conveyance  now  preserved  in 
the  Guildhall  Library. 

Irish  Invincibles.  A  secret  society  whose  members  made 
it  their  boast  that  they  defied  extermination.  Carey, 
the  informer,  openly  declared  that  their  mission  was 
"the  making  of  history  by  killing  tyrants."  The 
Phcenix  Park  murders  were  the  work  of  the  "In- 
vincibles." 

Irishman's  Crossing.  An  Americanism  for  the  mode  of 
many  people  anxious  to  cut  off  corners  by  crossing 
and  recrossing  the  street,  by  which  process  one's  way 
is  actually  made  longer. 

Irish  Stew.  So  called  because  among  the  Irish  peasantry 
the  beef  is  generally  absent,  the  stew  consisting  wholly 
of  onions  and  potatoes. 

Iron  Chancellor.  The  sobriquet  of  Prince  Bismarck,  Chan- 
cellor of  the  German  Empire,  on  account  of  his  iron 
will. 


Iron  City — Isis  163 

Iron  City.     Pittsburg,  world  renowned  for  its  ironworks. 

Iron  Devil.  An  inn  sign  corrupted  from  "  The  Hiron- 
delle,"  or  swallow. 

Iron  Duke.  The  Duke  of  Wellington,  distinguished  for  his 
unbending  will. 

Ironmonger  Lane.  Where  the  artificers  in  iron  congregated 
during  the  reign  of  Edward  I.  Later  they  removed 
into  Thames  Street. 

Ironside.  The  surname  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  king,  Edmund 
II.,  on  account  of  the  iron  armour  that  he  wore  as 
a  preservative  against  assassination. 

Ironsides.  The  name  given  to  the  Cromwellian  soldiers  on 
account  of  their  heavy  armour  and  iron  resolution. 

Irrawaddy.     Hindoo  for  "the  father  of  waters." 

Irving.  The  patronymic  of  the  late  Sir  Henry  Irving  was 
Brodribb.  When  he  went  on  the  stage  he  took  the 
name  of  Irving,  out  of  his  admiration  of  the  writings 
of  the  American  author,  Washington  Irving.  Half-a- 
century  ago  no  one  ever  thought  of  entering  the 
dramatic  profession  under  his  own  name.  Now  that 
the  stage  has  become  fashionable  actors  need  no 
longer  be  actuated  to  select  a  tiom  de  theatre  out  of 
regard  to  family  pride. 

Irvingites.  The  followers  of  the  Rev.  Edward  Irving,  who 
maintained  the  sinfulness  of  Christ's  nature  in  common 
with  that  of  ordinary  mankind.  Deposed  from  his 
living  by  the  Presbytery  of  the  Church  of  Scotland  in 
1830,  he  founded  the  "Apostolic  Catholic  Church." 

Isabel.  The  name  given  to  a  yellowish  brown  colour  from 
the  circumstance  that  at  the  memorable  seige  of 
Ostend  in  1601  Isabella,  the  wife  of  the  Duke  of 
Austria,  vowed  she  would  not  change  her  linen  until 
the  town  was  taken.  Unhappily  for  her,  it  held  out 
nearly  three  years.  Rash  vows  are  always  followed 
by  leisurely  repentance. 

Isis.     From  the  Celtic  uisg,  water.     The  word  enters  into 


1 64  Islam — Italy 

many  English  river  names,  notably  the  "Thames." 
The  University  of  Oxford  is  called  Isis  from  the  river 
upon  which  it  stands. 

Islam.  From  the  Arabic  islama,  to  bend.  This  term 
expressed  an  entire  submission  or  resignation  to  the 
will  of  God.  By  the  Mohammedans  "Islam"  is 
described  as  the  true  faith. 

Isle  of  Bourbon.  A  French  settlement  named  in  compli- 
ment to  the  House  of  Bourbon. 

Isle  of  Desolation.  When  discovered  by  Captain  Cook 
this  island  was  utterly  devoid  of  animal  life. 

Isle  of  Dogs.  A  corruption  of  "  Isle  of  Ducks,"  owing  to 
the  great  numbers  of  water-fowl  settled  on  the  marshes. 
In  our  time  it  might  well  be  described  as  the  "  Isle 
of  Docks." 

Isle  of  Man.  Properly  "Mona  Isle,"  from  the  Celtic  mcen, 
a  stone;  hence  "Isle  of  Rocks." 

Isle  of  St  Helena.  Discovered  on  the  Feast  of  St  Helena, 
1502. 

Isleworth.  Expresses  a  manorial  dwelling  beside  the  river. 
Sion  House,  in  which  Lady  Jane  Grey  resided  for  a 
time,  was  built  upon  the  ruins  of  an  ancient  nunnery. 
It  is  now  the  property  of  the  Duke  of  Northumberland, 
who  removed  thither  the  famous  lion  on  the  top  of  the 
demolished  Northumberland  House  at  Charing  Cross. 
The  popular  belief  that  when  this  lion  heard  the  clock 
of  St  Martin's  Church  strike  it  would  wag  its  tail  and 
turn  round  was  on  a  par  with  that  of  the  washing  of 
the  Tower  lions  on  the  first  of  April. 

Islington.     The  family  settlement  of  the  Islings. 

Is  the  Ghost  walking?    See  " Ghost  walking." 

Italics.  Thin  sloping  types,  altogether  different  from  the 
older  Roman,  first  used  in  an  edition  of  Virgil  by 
Aldo  Manuzio,  the  celebrated  printer  of  Venice,  in 
1207. 

Italy.     The  modern  form  of  the  Roman  description  of  the 


Ivan  the  Terrible— Jack  Ketch      165 

country,  Latium,  or  "broad  plain."  This  resulted 
in  the  designation  of  all  the  tribes  of  the  conquered 
districts  as  Latinii  or  the  Latins. 

Ivan  the  Terrible.  Ivan  IV.,  son  of  the  founder  of  the 
Russian  Empire,  who  rose  to  power  from  the  position 
of  Grand  Duke  of  Moscow.  This  second  Ivan,  at  the 
age  of  fourteen,  during  the  regency  of  his  mother,  had 
the  triumvirate  put  to  death;  whereupon  he  assumed 
the  title  of  Czar.  His  reputation  for  cruelty  soon 
began  to  assert  itself.  In  the  space  of  six  weeks  he 
caused  to  be  put  to  death  no  less  than  25,000  (some 
authorities  say  60,000)  persons  at  Novogorod,  from 
the  idea  that  they  were  plotting  to  deliver  up  that  city 
to  the  King  of  Poland.  To  crown  all,  in  a  fit  of 
passion  he  killed  his  own  son. 

Ivory  Black.  A  pigment  originally  obtained  from  calcined 
ivory,  but  now  from  bone. 

Ivy  Lane.  From  the  ivy-covered  houses  of  the  pre- 
bendaries attached  to  St  Paul's  Cathedral. 


Jackanapes.  Properly  "  Jack-of-apes,"  an  impudent  fellow 
who  apes  the  manners  of  his  social  superiors. 

Jackass.     The  male  ass. 

Jack-boots.  When  first  worn  by  cavalry  these  high  leather 
boots  were  covered  with  metal  plates  as  a  protection 
for  the  leg.  The  term  Jack  is  derived  from  the  Norman- 
French  jacque^  a  leathern  jerkin  worn  over  a  coat  of 
mail.  At  a  later  period  the  jacque  itself  was  made 
sword-proof  by  metal  plates  on  its  under  side. 

Jacket.  Expressed  originally  the  diminutive  of  the  Jacque — 
viz.  a  short  or  sleeveless  coat  of  leather.  See  "  Jack- 
boots." 

Jack  Ketch.  The  name  formerly  given  to  the  common 
hangman,   after   Richard   Jacquett,   who   owned   the 


1 66  Jack-knife — Jag 

manor  of  Tyburn,  where  malefactors  were  executed 
previous  to  1783. 

Jack-knife.  The  name  formerly  given  to  a  large  folding 
pocket-knife,  and  now  used  by  sailors,  in  contra- 
distinction to  a  "Penknife."     See  "Jack  Tar." 

Jackson.  The  name  of  a  river  and  several  towns  of  the 
United  States,  after  General  Andrew  Jackson,  the 
seventh  President. 

Jack  Straw's  Castle.  A  noted  hostelry  at  Hampstead,  said 
to  have  been  built  on  the  spot  where  Jack  Straw,  one 
of  the  leaders  in  Wat  Tyler's  insurrection,  made  his 
habitation  on  the  hillside. 

Jack  Tar.  A  sailor,  because  he  wears  tarpaulins  in  "  dirty 
weather."     Jack  is  a  generic  name  for  a  man  or  servant. 

Jacobins.  The  French  designation  of  the  Black  Friars  or 
Dominicans,  from  the  situation  of  their  earliest  convent 
in  the  Rue  St  Jacques,  Paris,  12 19. 

Jacobites.  The  Catholic  adherents  of  James  II.  and  his 
lineal  descendants  after  the  accession  to  the  English 
throne  of  William  III.  Jacobus  was  the  Latinised  form 
of  the  King's  name. 

Jacobus.  The  Scottish  sovereign,  valued  at  25s.,  which 
became  current  in  England  also  at  the  union  of 
the  two  crowns  in  the  person  of  King  James  I. 

Jacquard  Loom.  After  its  inventor,  Marie  J.  Jacquard 
of  Lyons,  who  died  in  1834. 

Jacquerie.  The  name  given  to  an  insurrection  of  French 
peasants  in  1358.  Jacques  is  the  generic  name  for  a 
member  of  the  artisan  class  in  France,  owing  to  the 
jacque,  or  sleeveless  white  cotton  jacket,  worn  by 
them.  The  leader  of  this  insurrection  called  himself 
Jacques  Bonhomme,  being  of  the  artisan  class  himself. 

Jag.  An  Americanism  for  drunkenness.  The  word  is 
employed  in  a  variety  of  ways  :  "  He's  got  a  jag  on  " — 
"He's  on  a  drinking  bout";  "He's  on  his  jags" — "He 
knows  how  it  is  to  have  the  jags  ";  "  He  has  the  jags 
just  now,"  etc.  etc. 


Jail  Bird— Janissaries  167 

Jail  Bird.  So  called  because  the  earliest  kind  of  prison  in 
this  country  was  an  alfresco  iron  cage. 

Jailed.  An  Americanism  for  being  put  in  jail,  sent  to 
prison. 

Jalap.  From  Jalapa  in  Mexico,  whence  the  root  of  this 
plant  was  first  brought  to  Europe  for  medicinal 
purposes  in  1610. 

Jamaica.  From  the  West  Indian  Caymaca,  signifying  "a 
country  abounding  in  springs." 

Jamaica  Road.     See  "  Cherry  Gardens  Pier." 

James  Bay.  After  James  I.,  in  whose  reign  this  arm  of 
Hudson's  Bay  was  completely  explored. 

James  River.  After  James  I.,  in  the  fourth  year  of  whose 
reign  it  was  navigated,  and  the  English  settlement 
called  Jamestown,  thirty-two  miles  inland,  formed. 

James  Street.  In  Covent  Garden,  in  compliment  to  the 
Duke  of  York,  afterwards  James  II.  That  on  the  south 
side  of  the  Strand  received  the  Christian  name  of  one 
of  the  Brothers  Adam,  builders  of  the  Adelphi. 

Jamestown.     See  "James  River." 

Jamie  Duff.  The  Scottish  designation  for  a  mourner  or 
weeper  at  a  funeral.  So  called  after  an  Edinburgh 
eccentric  of  this  name ;  nothing  pleased  him  better 
than  to  attend  a  funeral,  perhaps  because  he  enjoyed 
the  ride  in  the  coach. 

Jane  Hading.  This  famous  French  actress  was  christened 
Jeanne,  but,  appearing  on  the  stage  while  she  was  quite 
a  child,  her  parents  habitually  called  her  Jane,  because, 
as  she  has  herself  explained,  being  shorter,  it  would 
admit  of  the  family  name  appearing  in  larger  letters  on 
the  playbill. 

Janissaries.  A  militia  of  Turkish  footguards  originally 
composed  of  the  sons  of  Christian  subjects,  this  being 
the  tribute  levied  upon  the  parents  for  allowing  them 
to  live  in  peace  and  safety.  The  native  term  is  Jem- 
askari,  new  soldier. 


1 6&  Janitor — Jefferson 

Janitor.  The  American  description  of  a  caretaker  or  door- 
keeper. This  term  has  long  been  obsolete  in  England ; 
it  was  derived  from  the  Latin  Janua,  door. 

Jansenists.  A  religious  sect  headed  by  Cornelius  Jansen, 
Bishop  of  Ypres,  France,  early  in  the  seventeenth 
century. 

January.  Called  by  the  Romans  Januarius,  after  Janus, 
the  sun  god,  who  presided  over  the  beginnings  of 
things.  In  the  temple  of  Janus  the  figure  of  this  god 
had  two  faces :  one  supposed  to  look  on  the  past,  the 
other  on  the  future. 

Japan.  A  Western  corruption,  through  the  Portuguese 
Gepuen,  of  the  native  name  JViphon,  or  "  land  of  the 
rising  sun."  The  brilliant  black  varnish  called 
"Japan"  was  first  made  by  the  people  of  the  Far 
East. 

Jarvey.  A  cabman  or  car  driver,  so  called  after  the  name 
of  a  hackney  coach  driver  who  was  hanged. 

Jaunting  Oar.  The  characteristic  light  vehicle  in  Ireland 
in  which  the  people  enjoy  a  jaunt  or  excursion. 
English  folk  newly  arrived  in  the  Emerald  Isle  do  not 
always  appreciate  it.     See  "  Hold  hard." 

Java.     A  Malay  word  meaning  "  the  land  of  nutmegs." 

Jayhawker  State.  Kansas,  from  the  nickname  borne  by  the 
soldiers  of  Colonel  Jennison  of  New  York,  who,  being  a 
jovial  fellow,  was  called  a  "  Gay  Yorker,"  afterwards 
corrupted  into  "  Jayhawker."  The  people  of  this  state 
in  process  of  time  came  to  be  styled  "  Jayhawkers." 

Jedburgh.  A  royal  burgh  situate  at  the  confluence  of  the 
Rivers  Tefy  and  Jed.  The  ancient  form  of  justice 
meted  out  here  of  hanging  a  man  first  and  trying  him 
afterwards  is  frequently  alluded  to  as  "Jedwood"or 
"Jeddart"  justice. 

Jefferson.  The  name  of  a  river,  a  city,  and  a  mount  in  the 
United  States,  after  Thomas  Jefferson,  the  third 
President. 


Jeffreys  Street— Jerusalem  Chamber    169 

Jeffreys  Street.  After  one  of  the  family  names  of  the 
Earl  of  Brecknock,  Marquis  of  Camden,  the  ground 
landlord. 

Jehu.  A  cabman,  in  allusion  to  Jehu,  the  son  of  Nimshi, 
who,  we  are  told  in  2  Kings  ix.  20,  drove  furiously. 

Jeremiad.  A  tale  of  woe,  a  doleful  story.  So  called  after 
the  Prophet  Jeremiah,  who  wrote  the  "Book  of 
Lamentations." 

Jerked  Meat.  Dried  meat,  more  particularly  beef  dried 
in  the  open  air.  The  term  is  derived  from  the  Chilian 
charqui,  appled  to  dried  beef  throughout  Spanish 
America. 

Jerkin.  Expresses  the  diminutive  of  the  Dutch  jurk,  coat, 
frock  j  hence  a  short  coat  or  jacket. 

Jermyn  Street.  From  the  town  house  of  Henry  Jermyn, 
Earl  of  St  Albans. 

Jerry  Builder.  A  speculative  builder  who  runs  up  whole 
streets  of  houses  as  cheaply  as  possible  in  order  to  sell 
them.  The  word  "Jerry,"  derived  from  the  French 
jour,  day,  is  a  corruption  ofjoury,  meaning  temporary, 
unsubstantial. 

Jersey.  From  Czar's-ey,  or  "  Caesar's  Isle,"  so  called  by  the 
Romans  in  honour  of  Julius  Caesar.  The  close-fitting 
rowing  shirt  and  female  bodice  received  the  name  of 
a  Jersey  because  it  was  first  worn  by  the  inhabitants 
of  this  isle. 

Jersey  Lily.  The  punning  pet  name  of  Mrs  Langtry, 
when,  as  a  society  star,  she  first  adopted  the  stage  as 
a  profession.  Her  Christian  name  is  Lillie,  and  she 
was  born  in  Jersey. 

Jerusalem.  Expresses  the  Hebrew  for  "habitation  of 
peace." 

Jerusalem  Artichoke.  A  corruption  of  "  Girasole  Arti- 
choke," from  the  resemblance  of  the  leaf  and  stem  of 
this  flower  to  the  "Girasole,"  or  sunflower. 

Jerusalem  Chamber.  This  apartment  of  Westminster 
Abbey,  in  which  Henry  IV.  died,  received  its  name 


170  Jesuits — Jimpson  Weed 

from  the  pictures  of  the  Holy  Land,  in  connection 
with  the  Crusades,  that  adorned  its  walls. 

Jesuits.  The  members  of  a  powerful  missionary  order 
styled  "  The  Society  of  Jesus  "  which  was  founded  in 
1534  by  Ignatius  Loyola,  on  a  military  basis,  having 
himself  been  a  soldier. 

Jesuits'  Bark.  Another  name  for  the  Peruvian  or  Cinchona 
Bark,  because  discovered  by  the  Jesuit  missionaries  in 
Peru. 

Jewin  Street.  The  ancient  burying  ground  of  the  Jews 
while  they  were  permitted  to  reside  within  the  city 
walls — viz.  in  the  Old  Jewry.  The]suffix  in  is  a  corrupt 
form  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  en,  expressing  the  plural,  as  in 
Clerken  or  clerks'  well. 

Jewry  Street.  All  that  remains  of  the  old  name  given 
collectively  to  the  Jewish  quarter  of  London  after  this 
oppressed  race  had  been  driven  eastward  of  the  city 
proper.  This  street  was  the  Jews'  later  burial  ground. 
The  suffix  ry  denotes  a  place  or  district. 

Jews'  Harp.  A  corruption  of  "Jaws'  Harp,"  because  it  is 
held  between  the  teeth. 

Jezebel.  A  daring,  vicious  woman,  so  called  after  the  wife 
of  Ahab,  King  of  Israel. 

Jig.  From  the  French  gigue,  a  lively  dance,  and  the  Italian 
gt'ga,  a  romp. 

Jilt.  From  the  Scottish  gillet,  a  giddy  young  woman. 
This  word  expressed  the  diminutive  of  Jill  or  Julia,  a 
name  used  in  a  contemptuous  sense  after  Julia,  the 
daughter  of  Augustus  Caesar,  who  disgraced  herself  by 
her  dissolute  conduct. 

Jimmy.  A  crowbar  used  by  house  burglars.  The  word  is 
not  so  much  thieves'  slang  as  a  corruption  of  Jenny, 
expressing  the  diminutive  of  gin  or  engine,  the 
general  term  formerly  for  a  machine  or  mechanical 
appliance. 

Jimpson  Weed.  Properly  "Jamestown  Weed,"  from  the 
place  in  Virginia  where  it  was  introduced. 


Jingo— John  Bull  171 

Jingo.     See  "By  Jingo." 

Jingoes.  The  British  war  party  during  the  Russo-Turkish 
struggle  of  1877-8,  when  there  was  grave  likelihood  of 
this  country  interfering.  The  term  became  popular 
through  the  refrain  in  G.  H.  Macdermott's  famous 
song : 

"  We  don't  want  to  fight,  but,  by  Jingo,  if  we  do, 
We've  got  the  ships,  we've  got  the  men,  we've  got  the  money  too." 

For  a  time  the  Jingo  Party  was  in  the  ascendant. 

Joachims-Thaler.     See  "  Thaler." 

Jockey.  The  diminutive  of  Jock,  which  is  the  Scottish 
form  of  Jack  or  John,  expressive  of  a  servant.  The 
first  jockeys  engaged  in  horse  racing  were  boys,  on 
account  of  their  light  weight ;  hence  the  term. 

Joe  Miller.  A  stale  joke,  corresponding  to  the  modern 
"  Chestnut."  Joe  Miller  was  a  witty  comedian  whose 
sayings  were  compiled  by  John  Mottley  in  the  reign 
of  James  II.  Until  about  a  hundred  years  ago  this 
was  the  only  book  of  jests  extant,  and  everyone  who 
wished  to  "set  the  table  in  a  roar"  freely  drew 
upon  it. 

Joey.  The  popular  nickname  of  Mr  Joseph  Chamberlain, 
of  Fiscal  Policy  fame. 

Johannis.  From  Johannisberg,  near  Wiesbaden.  This 
name  is  literally  "John's  Rock,"  on  which  stands  the 
famous  castle. 

John  Audley.  An  old  showman's  phrase,  which  still  obtains 
in  what  is  called  a  portable  theatre.  As  soon  as  a 
sufficient  crowd  for  another  "house"  has  collected 
outside,  the  money-taker,  or  the  showman  himself, 
calls  out  at  the  door  "John  Audley!"  (originally  it 
was  the  question  "Is  John  Audley  here?")  as  a  hint 
to  the  performers  to  finish  quickly  and  dismiss  the 
audience.  This,  it  is  said,  was  the  invention  of 
Shorter,  the  comedian,  while  he  was  playing  in  booths 
at  country  fairs. 

John  Bull.     The  Representative  Englishman,  bluff,  long- 


172  John  Carpenter  St.— Johnson's  Court 

suffering,  and  open-hearted.  This  national  nickname 
was  derived  from  a  satire  of  the  same  title  published 
by  Dr  John  Arbuthnot  in  1721. 

John  Carpenter  Street.  After  the  founder  of  the  City  of 
London  School,  which  occupies  one  side  of  this  modern 
thoroughfare,  having  been  removed  hither  from  Bow 
Lane  in  1882.  John  Carpenter  was  town  clerk  of  the 
city  of  London  in  the  reigns  of  Henry  V.  and  VI. 

John  Chinaman.  Ever  since  the  outbreak  of  the  gold  fever 
in  California  a  Chinaman  in  that  part  of  the  United 
States  has  been  addressed  as  "John,"  the  Transatlantic 
generic  name  for  a  man-servant,  corresponding  to  the 
old  English  Jack. 

John  Doe  and  Richard  Roe.  Fictitious  names,  which  prior 
to  1852,  when  they  were  abolished,  appeared  in  every 
legal  process  of  ejectment  in  place  of  the  names  of  the 
real  parties. 

John  Dory.  The  name  of  this  fish  is  a  corruption  of  the 
French  Jaune-doree,  yellow,  golden,  relative  to  the 
colour. 

Johnnies.  Overdressed,  empty -pated  scions  of  good 
families  who  spent  their  surplus  cash  upon  burlesque 
actresses,  and  hung  about  for  them  at  the  stage  door 
when  the  "sacred  lamp  of  burlesque "  burned  brightly 
at  the  Gaiety  Theatre.  Since  "Jack "  was  the  generic 
name  for  a  man  or  servant,  so  one  distinguished  for 
the  possession  of  more  money  than  brains  was,  and  is 
still,  dubbed  a  "Johnnie." 

John  of  Gaunt.  Properly  of  Ghent,  his  birthplace,  in 
Flanders. 

John  0'  Groat's  House.  Formerly  the  most  northern  habi- 
tation on  the  mainland  of  Scotland,  said  to  have  been 
that  of  Johnny  Groat,  for  the  accommodation  of 
travellers  who  wished  to  cross  the  ferry  to  the  Orkney 
Isles.  Its  site  may  now  be  recognised  by  a  green 
knoll. 

Johnson's  Court.  Although  the  great  lexocographer,  Dr 
Johnson,  spent   ten  years  of  his   life  in  this  Fleet 


John  Street— Judd  Street         173 

Street  court,  it  was  not  named  after  him,  but  after 
another  Johnson,  whose  property  it  was,  and  who  also 
resided  in  it. 

John  Street.  In  the  Adelphi,  after  the  Christian  name  of 
one  of  the  brothers  Adam.  In  Piccadilly,  after  one 
of  the  family  names  of  the  Berkeleys,  the  ground 
landlords. 

Joiner.  The  provincial  term  for  one  who  in  London  is 
called  a  "Carpenter."  Literally  a  joiner  of  wooden 
building  materials. 

Joint  Ring.     Another  name  for  a  "  Gimnal  Ring." 

Joint-Stock  Company.  So  called  because  the  stock  is 
vested  jointly  in  many  persons. 

Jonathan's.  The  original  name  of  the  Stock  Exchange, 
after  a  coffee-house  keeper  whose  house  was  the 
rendezvous  of  the  earliest  dealers  in  stock. 

Jollies.  The  sailors'  nickname  for  the  Marines,  because 
they  are  about  as  useful  to  a  ship  as  the  "Jolly  Boat " 
which  floats  behind  it. 

Jolly  Boat.  A  corruption  of  "  Jawl  boat,"  from  the  Danish 
jolle,  a  small  boat. 

Jordan.     Expresses  the  Hebrew  for  "the  flowing." 

Journeyman.  An  artisan  who  hires  himself  out  to  labour, 
conformly  to  the  French  jour,  day,  a  day  labourer. 

Juan  Fernandez.  After  the  navigator,  who  discovered  it  in 
1567.  On  this  isle  Alexander  Selkirk  was  the  sole 
inhabitant  from  September  1704  until  February  1707. 
Daniel  Defoe  made  this  adventurer  the  hero  of  his 
celebrated  story  "Robinson  Crusoe." 

Jubilee  Plunger.  The  sobriquet  of  Ernest  Benzon,  who 
lost  ^250,000  on  the  turf  in  two  years  after  embark- 
ing upon  his  betting  career  in  1887,  the  Jubilee  year 
of  Queen  Victoria's  reign. 

Judd  Street.  The  property  of  Sir  Andrew  Judd,  Lord 
Mayor  of  London  in  155 1.    By  his  will  he  bequeathed 


174         Judges'  Walk— Jungfrau 

it  to  the  endowment  of  a  school  at  Tonbridge,  his 
native  place. 
Judges'  Walk.  So  called  because  a  number  of  judges  and 
barristers  of  the  King's  Bench  made  themselves  tem- 
porary habitations  in  tents  on  this  breezy  height  of 
Hampstead  during  the  Great  Plague. 

Jug.     Thieves'  slang  for  prison.     See  "  In  the  Jug." 

Juggins.  A  fool,  a  reckless  fellow,  so  called  after  a  noted 
character  of  this  name,  who  about  twenty  years  ago 
squandered  his  whole  fortune  by  reckless  betting  on 
the  turf. 

Juggler.  From  the  French  jougleur,  a  jester  or  miscel- 
laneous entertainer  who  was  the  invariable  companion 
of  a  troubadour  during  the  Middle  Ages. 

Julep.  An  American  spirituous  beverage,  also  a  pre- 
paration to  make  medicines  less  nauseous.  The  word 
is  derived  from  the  Arabic  julab,  rose-water. 

July.     In  honour  of  Julius  Caesar,  who  was  born  in  this 

month. 
Jump  a  Claim.     A  Far  West  expression  meaning  to  deprive 

another  of  his  lawful  claim ;  literally  to  jump  into  his 

diggings  and  take  possession. 

Jump  on  it  with  both  Feet.  The  Transatlantic  mode  of 
saying  "  I'll  denounce  it  to  the  utmost  of  my  power." 

Jump  the  Game.  An  Americanism  for  running  away  from 
one's  creditors. 

June.  The  sixth  month  of  the  year  j  that  of  growth,  agree- 
ably to  the  Latin  juvenis,  young.  The  Romans  dedi- 
cated it  to  the  "  Juniores,"  or  young  soldiers  of  the 
State. 

Jungfrau.  Two  reasons  are  assigned  for  the  name  (German, 
"The  Maiden  " )  given  to  this,  one  of  the  highest  peaks 
of  the  Bernese  Alps.  Firstly,  because  of  the  unsullied 
purity  and  dazzling  whiteness  of  the  snow  with  which 
it  is  eternally  clad  j  secondly,  owing  to  the  fact  that,  its 
summit  being  inaccessible,  no  man  has  ever  conquered 
or  ravished  this  mountain  maiden. 


Junk— Kaaba  175 

Junk.  A  seaman's  term  for  rope  ends  and  also  the  salt 
beef  served  out  on  board  ship.  The  word  is  derived 
from  the  Latin  /uncus,  a  bulrush,  out  of  which  ropes 
were  anciently  made.  In  the  second  sense  of  the  term 
the  toughness  of  the  meat  is  sarcastically  implied. 

Jury.     From  the  Latin  jurare,  to  swear. 

Jury  Mast.  Properly  "Joury  Mast,"  from  the  French  jour, 
day,  because  it  is  only  a  temporary  mast  put  up  to 
replace  one  carried  away  by  stress  of  weather. 

Justice  is  Blind.  An  expression  derived  from  the  alle- 
gorical representation  of  Justice,  who,  holding  the 
scales,  is  blindfolded.  See  "  Scales  of  Justice."  This 
really  had  its  origin  in  the  custom  of  the  ancient 
Egyptians,  who  conducted  their  trials  in  a  darkened 
chamber,  in  order  that  the  prisoner,  the  pleader,  and 
the  witnesses  being  alike  unseen,  the  judges  could  not 
be  moved  to  undue  sympathy,  and  their  judgment 
might  be  the  more  impartial. 

Justice  Walk.  In  this  portion  of  Chelsea  resided  a  London 
magistrate  whose  name  has  not  been  handed  down  to 
posterity. 

Juteopolis.  The  name  given  to  Dundee  on  account  of  its 
staple  industry. 

Jutland.     The  land  of  the  Jutes. 

Juveniles.  In  theatrical  parlance  the  lovers'  parts.  The 
principal  stage  lover's  part,  such  as  Romeo,  is  called  the 
"juvenile  lead."  Other  young  men's  parts,  that  do 
not  call  for  love  making  on  the  stage,  are  styled 
"  walking  gentlemen." 

N-  k 

Kaaba.  The  stone  building  inside  the  great  Mosque  at 
Mecca ;  said  to  have  been  erected  over  the  spot  where 
Adam  first  worshipped  after  his  expulsion  from  the 
Garden  of  Eden.  The  name  is  Arabic  for  "square 
house." 


176         Kaffraria—  Keep  it  Dark 

Kaffraria.  The  country  of  the  Kaffirs  or  "unbelievers," 
from  the  Mohammedan  standpoint.  This  term  was 
applied  not  only  to  the  natives  south  of  Abyssinia  and 
the  desert  regions  of  Africa,  but  also  to  the  people 
of  a  country  in  Central  Asia  east  of  the  Hindu  Cush 
known  accordingly  as  Kaflristan.  Kaifer  is  Arabic  for 
"infidel,"  and  the  suffix  stan  expresses  the  Persian 
for  "  country." 

Kailyard.     Scottish  for  cabbage  garden. 

Kaisar.  The  German  form  of  the  title  of  the  Roman 
Emperors,  "Caesar." 

Kalmucks.  A  Western  corruption  of  the  native  Khalmick, 
or  "  Apostates,"  the  name  given  to  this  large  family  of 
the  Mongolian  race  because  they  rejected  the  doc- 
trines of  Buddha.  It  was  these  Kalmucks  who,  under 
the  name  of  "Huns,"  descended  upon  Europe  in  the 
fourth  century. 

Kamptulicon.     From  the  Greek  Kampto,  to  bend. 

Kansas.  The  Indian  name  for  the  river,  signifying  "  smoky 
water  "  j  afterwards  applied  also  to  the  state. 

Keble  College.  A  memorial  college  at  Oxford  of  the  Rev. 
John  Keble,  author  of  "  The  Christian  Year,"  whose 
death  took  place  in  1866. 

Keelhaul.  To  haul  under  the  keel  of  a  vessel  from  stem 
to  stern  by  means  of  ropes  on  either  side.  This  was 
the  most  dreaded,  because  the  most  dangerous,  punish- 
ment meted  out  to  seamen  or  apprentices  by  tyrannical 
captains  in  former  times.  Readers  of  Captain  Marry at's 
"Snarleyyow,  or  the  Dog  Fiend"  will  recollect  what 
that  meant  to  the  hapless  victim. 

Keeping  Crispin.  An  old  phrase  for  the  shoemakers'  annual 
holiday  on  the  Feast  of  St  Crispin,  their  patron  saint, 
25th  October.  In  some  parts  of  the  country  we  hear 
of  it  in  connection  with  what  passes  elsewhere  under 
the  name  of  "Cobblers'  Monday." 

Keep  it  Dark.  The  reference  was  originally  to  treasure 
kept  in  a  place  of  concealment. 


Keep  on  Pegging  at  it— Kensington    177 

Keep  on  Pegging  at  it.     See  "  Peg  Away." 

Keep  the  Ball  Rolling.  An  expression  derived  from  the 
game  of  Bandy,  in  which  the  two  sets  of  players, 
armed  with  hooked  sticks,  continually  sent  the  ball 
rolling  to  opposite  goals. 

Keep  the  Pot  Boiling.  The  antithesis  of  a  hand-to-mouth 
existence;  meaning  the  command  not  only  of  some- 
thing for  the  stock  pot  but  also  needful  fuel. 

Keep  the  Wolf  from  the  Door.  By  paying  one's  way 
others  will  prosper  likewise,  and  ravenous  creditors 
clamouring  at  the  door  for  their  just  demands  will  be 
non-existent.  The  wolf  is  represented  by  a  greedy 
landlord  hungering  for  his  rent,  or,  failing  that,  the 
household  goods. 

Keep  your  Nose  to  the  Grindstone.  To  continue  hard 
at  work  without  cessation.  If  a  tool  is  not  held  close 
to  the  grindstone  the  stone  will  go  round  all  the  same, 
but  the  tool  does  not  get  sharpened.  So  a  man  may 
loiter  over  his  work,  but  the  actual  accomplishment  is 
nil. 

Keep  your  Pecker  up.  Have  courage,  and  hold  your 
head  erect.  Pecker  is  slang  for  the  mouth,  in  allusion 
to  fowls  which  peck  their  food — in  other  words,  they 
strike  at  it  with  the  beak. 

Keep  your  "Weather  Eye  open.  Be  on  a  sharp  look-out 
in  the  right  direction.  A  sailor  looks  towards  the 
wind  in  order  to  forecast  the  weather. 

Kendal.     Expresses  the  dale  of  the  River  Ken. 

Kendal  Green.  Green  cloth  made  at  Kendal  in  West- 
moreland, for  which  this  town  was  long  famous.  The 
cloths  produced  here  still  bear  the  name  of  "  Kendals." 

Kennington.  The  town  which  grew  up  in  the  king's 
meadow.  Henry  VIII.  had  a  rural  retreat  erected 
here. 

Kensington.  Described  in  Anglo-Saxon  records  as  Kynsing- 
ton^  or  king's  meadow  town. 

M 


178  Kensington  Gore — Kew 

Kensington  Gore.  After  Gore  House,  the  residence  of 
the  Countess  of  Blessington,  that  occupied  part  of  the 
site  of  the  Royal  Albert  Hall. 

Kent.  Called  by  the  Romans  Caesar  Cantium  after  the 
Cantii,  who  peopled  this  Ken?it  headland  or  corner,  of 
Albion's  Isle. 

Kentish  Fire.  The  name  given  to  rapturous  volleys  of 
cheers,  such  as  that  which  distinguished  the  Kentish 
men  when  they  applauded  the  "  No  Popery  "  orators 
in  1828-9. 

Kentish  Man.  A  native  of  the  county  of  Kent,  west  of 
the  Medway. 

Kentish  Town.  A  corruption  of  "Kantelowes  Town," 
built  upon  the  manor  of  the  same  name.  The  modern 
spelling  of  this  family  name  is  "Cantlowes,"  which  is 
that  given  to  a  street  on  the  south  side  of  Camden 
Road. 

Kent  Street.  Leads  out  of  London  to  the  great  Kentish 
highway  to  Dover.  At  one  time  the  landlords  in  this 
street  took  away  the  front  doors  of  tenants  who  were 
more  than  a  fortnight  in  arrears  of  paying  their  rent. 
This,  styled  a  "  Kent  Street  Ejectment,"  was  found 
effectual  in  getting  rid  of  unprofitable  tenants. 

Kentucky.     Indian  for  "  long  river." 

Keppel  Street.  From  the  "  Admiral  Keppel  "  at  the  corner 
of  this  street  and  Fulham  Road. 

Kerchief.     See  "  Handkerchief." 

Kersey.  From  Kersey,  in  Suffolk,  once  famed  for  its 
woollen  manufacture. 

Kettledrum.  A  rounded  drum,  so  called  from  its  shape ; 
also  the  name  given  to  a  tea  party,  both  on  account 
of  the  noise  made  by  the  guests,  and  because  the 
hostess  metaphorically  beats  them  up  at  the  time  of 
sending  out  her  invitations.     See  "  Drum." 

Kettle  of  Fish.     See  ''Pretty  Kettle  of  Fish." 

Kew.     Styled  in  ancient  documents  Kay-hoo,  meaning  a 


Keystone  State — Kildare         179 

quay  on  a  hoo  or  oe,  which  expressed  the  Danish  for  an 
island ;  also  a  spit  of  land  at  the  mouth  of  a  river  or 
creek. 

Keystone  State.  Pennsylvania,  geographically  considered 
as  seventh  among  the  thirteen  original  states  of  the 
Union. 

Khaki.  Expresses  the  Hindoo  for  "  colour  of  cow  dung." 
This  term  came  into  prominence  during  the  South 
African  War,  when  all  British  uniforms  were  made  of 
materials  of  this  hue,  so  as  to  make  our  troops  less 
conspicuous  to  the  enemy. 

Kahn.  Expresses  the  Persian,  from  a  Tartar  word,  for  a 
lord  or  prince. 

Khedive.  From  the  Persian  khidiw,  a  king.  In  the 
Turkish  khadiv  the  title  expresses  a  ruler  one  grade 
removed  from  a  Sultan. 

Kicker.  An  Americanism  for  one  who  at  a  public  meet- 
ing objects  to  a  proposal. 

Kick  the  Bucket.  An  expression  derived  from  the 
primitive  mode  of  a  man  hanging  himself  by  standing 
on  a  bucket,  and  then  kicking  it  aside.  The  "  drop  " 
in  this  case  could  not  have  been  a  long  one. 

Kidnap.  Not  only  is  this  word  accepted  English  in  the 
absence  of  a  more  refined  equivalent,  but  it  is  also 
made  to  do  service  in  the  case  of  an  adult  taken  away 
against  his  will.  Kid,  of  course,  expresses  a  young 
goat,  and  is  slang  for  a  child.  The  second  portion  of 
the  term  is  likewise  slang,  from  nab>  to  steal. 

Kidney  Bean.     The  coarse  bean  shaped  like  a  kidney. 

Kiel.     From  the  Danish  keol,  a  ship. 

Kilbride.     The  church  of  St  Bride  or  Bridget. 

Kilburn.  Expresses  the  kil%  or  cell,  of  "  one  Godwynne,  a 
holy  hermit,"  beside  the  bournt  or  brook. 

Kildare.  From  the  Celtic  kildara^  the  cell  or  hermitage 
among  the  oaks.  A  monastery  was  founded  here  by 
St  Bridget  towards  the  close  of  the  fifth  century. 


180  Kilkenny— King's  Arms 

Kilkenny.     The  kt/t  or  church,  of  St  Kenny  or  Canice  in 

connection  with  the  ancient  abbey  dedicated  to  St 

John. 
Killarney.     A  corruption  of  "  Killeaney,"  from  the  church 

of  the   Dominican  monastery  on  the  banks  of  the 

River  Leane. 

Kindergarten.  Expresses  the  German  for  a  children's 
garden  or  playground.  The  system  of  juvenile 
education  so  called  aims  at  self-tuition  by  means  of 
toys  and  games. 

Kinetoscope.  The  name  originally  given  to  our  modern 
"living  pictures,"  from  the  Greek  kinetikos^  "putting 
in  motion."     See  "Mutoscope." 

King  Charles  Spaniel.  The  small  species  of  "Spaniel" 
which  was  such  a  favourite  with  Charles  I. 

King  Edward's  Grammar  School.  A  superior  academical 
institution  founded  and  endowed  for  the  tuition  of 
Latin  and  Greek  grammar  by  Edward  VI. 

King  Edward  Street.  After  Edward  VI.,  the  "  Boy 
King,"  founder  of  Christ's  Hospital,  or  Blue  Coat 
Grammar  School,  hard  by. 

Kingfisher.  The  king  of  fisher  birds  that  dive  into  water 
for  their  prey,  so  called  on  account  of  its  gay  plumage. 

King  James's  Bible.  The  Authorised  Version  ordered  to 
be  prepared  and  given  to  the  people  by  James  I. 

King-maker.  Richard  Neville,  Earl  of  Warwick,  so 
called  because  he  was  instrumental  in  placing  both 
Edward  IV.  on  the  Yorkist  and  Henry  VI.  on  the 
Lancastrian  side  on  the  throne  after  espousing  their 
individual  cause. 

King  of  Bath.  The  sobriquet  of  Richard  Nash,  also 
known  as  Beau  Nash,  who  for  more  than  half-a-century 
was  Master  of  Ceremonies  at  the  fashionable  Assembly 
Rooms  of  Bath. 

King's  Arms.  An  inn  sign,  originally  representing  the 
counterfeit  presentment  or  royal  arms  of  an  individual 


King's  Bench— King's  Own  Men    181 

sovereign,   but  now  a  mere  name,  which  must  have 
done  duty  alike  in  honouring  a  long  line  of  monarchs. 

King's  Bench.  Anciently  the  superior  Court  of  Law 
presided  over  by  the  King  in  person,  when  he  sat  on 
an  oaken  bench.  Wherever  he  went  in  state  this 
Court  followed  him.  Judges  and  magistrates  are 
still  said  to  occupy  the  Bench. 

King's  College.  At  Cambridge,  founded  in  1441  by 
Henry  VI.  In  London,  the  foundation  by  a  royal 
charter  of  George  IV.  in  1828. 

King's  County.  In  honour  of  Philip  of  Spain,  the  husband 
of  Queen  Mary.     The  original  name  was  Ossaly. 

King's  Cross.  So  called  from  a  statue  of  George  IV. 
set  up  here  at  the  accession  of  that  monarch,  and 
taken  down  in  1842  to  make  way  for  the  Great 
Northern  Railway  terminus.  It  is  highly  probable 
that  an  ancient  cross  stood  on  the  same  spot,  since, 
quite  apart  from  the  fact  that  Queen  Boadicea  was 
defeated  by  the  Romans  at  Battle  Bridge  hereabouts, 
it  was  in  this  neighbourhood  too  that  King  Alfred 
waged  a  sanguinary  conflict  with  the  Danes. 

King's  Evil.  The  name  given  to  scrofula,  from  the  old 
superstitious  idea  that  it  could  be  cured  by  the  touch 
of  a  king  or  queen. 

Kingsgate  Street.  So  called  from  the  gate  through  which 
James  I.  passed  across  the  meadows  to  Theobalds 
in  Hertfordshire,  his  favourite  hunting  seat. 

King's  Head.     See  "  King's  Arms." 

Kingsland.  This  district  marked  the  southern  limits  of  the 
ancient  royal  domain  of  Enfield  Chase. 

King's  Lynn.  Anciently  called  "Lynn  Episcopi,"  being 
the  property  of  the  Bishop  of  Norwich.  At  the 
dissolution  of  the  monasteries  Henry  VIII.  sequestered 
this  estate,  and  gave  the  town  the  name  of  Lynn  Regis, 
or  King's  Lynn.    The  word  Lynn  is  Celtic  for  "pool." 

King's  Own  Men.  The  78th  Foot,  so  called  from  their 
Gaelic  motto  :  "Cuidichr  Rhi"  (Help  the  King). 


1 82      King's  Road — Kirschwasser 

King's  Road.  In  compliment  to  Charles  II.,  who  caused 
this  highway  between  Chelsea  and  Fulham  Palace  to 
be  made  passable. 

Kingston.  The  capital  of  Jamaica,  after  William  III.,  in 
whose  reign  (1693)  it  was  founded. 

Kingston-on-Thames.  From  the  ancient  stone  on  which 
seven  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  kings  were  crowned.  This 
interesting  relic  is  now  enclosed  with  iron  railings  near 
the  Town  Hall. 

Kingstown.  Originally  "Dunleary,"the  name  was  changed 
in  honour  of  the  visit  of  George  IV.  in  September 
1821. 

King  Street.  That  in  Covent  Garden,  after  Charles  I., 
in  whose  reign  it  was  laid  out.  In  St  James's,  after 
James  I.  In  Cheapside,  in  honour  of  Henry  IV., 
who  passed  down  it  to  open  the  new  Guildhall.  At 
Westminster,  because  this  was  the  direct  road  between 
the  Court  and  the  Abbey. 

Kingsway.  The  name  given  by  the  London  County 
Council  to  the  new  thoroughfare  from  Holborn  to  the 
Strand  opened  by  King  Edward  VII.  in  1905. 

King  William  Street.  In  the  city,  after  William  IV.,  who 
performed  the  inaugural  ceremony  of  declaring  the 
London  Bridge  open  for  traffic,  1st  August  1831. 
The  street  of  the  same  name  west  of  the  Strand  was 
newly  laid  out  in  his  reign  as  a  direct  thoroughfare  to 
Leicester  Square. 

Kirkcudbright.  Expresses  the  Celtic  for  "the  Church  of 
St  Cuthbert." 

Kirkdale.     The  church  in  the  dale  or  vale  of  Pickering. 

Kirke's  Lambs.  The  nickname  bestowed  upon  the  2nd 
Foot,  under  the  command  of  Captain  Kirke,  during 
the  "  Bloody  Assizes,"  and  having  for  their  badge  the 
Paschal  Lamb. 

Kirschwasser.  German  for  "  Cherry  Water,"  this  beverage 
being  distilled  from  the  juice  of  the  black  cherry. 


Kiss-me-Quick — Knapsack        1 83 

Kiss-me-Quick.  The  name  of  a  small  bonnet  popular  in 
England  midway  during  the  last  century.  Though 
of  the  "coal  scuttle"  pattern  it  did  not  extend  beyond 
the  face,  and  was  chiefly  worn  by  ladies  going  to  parties 
or  the  play. 

Kiss  the  Place  and  make  it  better.  The  expression, 
commonly  employed  by  mothers  and  nurses  to  pacify 
children  when  they  have  hurt  themselves,  is  a  survival 
of  the  days  of  the  sorcerers,  who  pretended  to  cure  a 
disease  by  sucking  the  affected  part. 

Kiss  the  Scavenger's  Daughter.  See  "Scavenger's 
Daughter." 

Kit.  A  soldier's  outfit,  which  he  carries  on  his  person 
when  on  the  march.  The  name  is  derived  from 
the  Dutch  kitte>  a  wooden  beer-can  strapped  on  the 
soldier's  belt. 

Kit-Cat.  The  name  given  by  artists  to  a  three-quarter 
length  portrait,  and  also  to  a  canvas  measuring  28  by 
36  inches,  in  allusion  to  the  portraits  of  uniform  size, 
and  all  painted  by  Sir  Godfrey  Kneller,  to  suit  the 
dimensions  of  the  apartments  occupied  by  the  famous 
Kit-Cat  Club.  This  club  was  long  held  at  the  house 
of  a  pastrycook  called  Christopher  Cat  in  Shire  Lane, 
Fleet  Street  (now  Serle's  Place),  after  whom,  familiarly 
styled  "  Kit-Cat,"  it  took  its  name.  His  own  mutton 
pies  were  the  staple  refreshment,  from  which  circum- 
stance such  pies  were  until  quite  modern  times  also 
called  "Kit-Cats." 

Kleptomania.  The  name  given  to  an  impulsive  desire 
to  steal  or  appropriate  that  which  is  ready  to  hand ;  so 
called  from  the  Greek  kkptes,  thief,  and  mania^ 
madness. 

Knacker.  From  the  Icelandic  knakkr^  a  saddle;  hence 
a  dealer  in  and  slaughterer  of  old  horses. 

Knapsack.  From  the  Dutch  and  German  knappen,  to 
bite  or  chew,  and  zak,  a  sack.  Like  the  original 
German  and  Dutch  forms   of  this  receptacle  for  a 


184       Knave — Knightrider  Street 

soldier's   necessaries  on   the   march,  the  Swiss   still 
carry  a  bag  made  of  goatskin. 

Knave.  From  the  German  knabe,  a  boy.  The  tricks 
peculiar  to  a  boy  no  doubt  caused  this  term  to  be 
applied  to  a  deceitful  or  otherwise  reprehensible 
fellow.  The  knave  in  a  pack  of  cards  represents,  of 
course,  the  knight  or  servant  to  the  king  and  queen. 

Knife-board.  The  advertisement-board  on  either  side  of 
an  omnibus  roof,  so  called  on  account  of  its  fancied 
resemblance  to  the  domestic  knife-sharpener.  On  the 
old-fashioned  omnibuses  the  roof  passengers  sat  back 
to  back,  with  their  feet  touching  the  "knife-board," 
and  it  was  facetiously  said  they  thereon  sharpened 
their  wits. 

Knife  and  Fork  Tea.     See  "  High  Tea." 

Knight.  From  the  Saxon  knicht,  a  servant,  which  is  the 
origin  also  of  the  modern  German  knecht,  a  man-servant. 

Knight  Bachelor.  One  who  in  the  days  of  chivalry 
forswore  marriage  until  he  had  performed  some  feat 
of  valour,  and  so  merited  renown. 

Knight  Banneret.  A  knight  hastily  created  on  the  field 
of  battle  in  recognition  of  signal  bravery.  This  was 
done  by  tearing  off  a  streamer  from  a  banner  and 
handing  it  to  him  as  a  token  of  investiture. 

Knight  Errant.  One  who  went  forth  in  quest  of  adven- 
tures, more  particularly  to  win  the  admiration  of  fair 
ladies,  by  rescuing  them,  in  common  with  the  weak 
and  oppressed,  from  the  feudal  lords  whose  rapacity  in 
those  barbarous  ages  knew  no  bounds.  The  word 
errant,  like  its  modern  equivalent  errand,  was  derived 
from  the  Latin  errare,  to  wander.  It  was  in  ridicule 
of  this  system  of  knight-errantry  that  Cervantes  wrote 
his  immortal  romance  "  Don  Quixote." 

Knight  of  the  Yard  Stick.  An  Americanism  for  a 
draper's  assistant  or  a  retail  dry-goods  salesman; 
what  in  England  people  often  style  a  "Counter 
Jumper." 

Knightrider  Street.      The  place  of   assembling  of   the 


Knightsbridge— Knickerbockers     185 

knights   of  old  on   their  way   in   procession  to   the 
Smithfield  tournaments. 

Knightsbridge.  Tradition  has  it  that  two  knights  who 
went  to  receive  a  blessing  from  the  Bishop  of  London 
at  Fulham  Palace  suddenly  quarrelled,  and  fought  a 
deadly  combat  on  the  bridge  which  anciently  spanned 
the  Westbourne  where  now  stands  Albert  Gate.  A 
public-house  close  by,  demolished  within  the  last  three 
years,  bore  the  sign  of  "The  Fulham  Bridge." 

Knights  Hospitallers.  The  Second  Order  of  Knights  of 
the  Crusades,  who  founded  and  protected  the  hospital 
at  Jerusalem  for  the  accommodation  of  pilgrims  to  the 
Holy  Places.  When  at  a  later  period  they  erected 
a  larger  hospital  in  connection  with  the  church 
dedicated  to  St  John  the  Baptist,  they  assumed  the 
title  of  "  Knights  of  St  John  of  Jerusalem." 

Knights  of  Malta.  The  Knights  Hospitallers  who,  hav- 
ing taken  Rhode  Island,  were  at  length  expelled  there- 
from by  the  Turks,  and  took  up  their  establishment 
permanently  at  Malta. 

Knights  of  St  John  of  Jerusalem.  See  "Knights 
Hospitallers." 

Knights  of  the  Road.  Highwaymen,  who  were  always 
good  horsemen. 

Knights  Templars.  The  military  Order  of  Knights  of  the 
Crusades,  styled  "Soldiers  of  the  Temple."  Their 
aim  was  to  wrest  the  Holy  Sepulchre  from  the  hands 
of  the  Saracens,  and  maintain  it  through  futurity. 

Knights  Teutonic.  An  independent  Order  of  Knights  of 
the  Crusades  composed  of  nobles  from  the  cities  of 
Bremen  and  Lubeck  for  the  protection  of  German 
pilgrims  to  the  Holy  Land. 

Knickerbockers.  The  people  of  the  city  of  New  York. 
When  Washington  Irving  wrote  his  "History  of  New 
York  "  he  assumed  the  name  of  Diedrich  Knicker- 
bocker, in  allusion  to  the  wide  breeches  worn  by  the 
early  settlers  of  the  colony,  then  called  by  them  New 
Amsterdam ;    hence    the    application    of    the    term 


1 86    Knocked  into  Cocked  Hat— Kops 

"Knickerbockers"  to  knee-breeches  generally.  New 
York  is  known  as  "The  Knickerbocker  City." 

Knocked  into  a  Cocked  Hat.  Prostrated  or  completely 
flattened  out  like  a  cocked  hat,  which,  as  its  name 
implies,  could  be  cocked  or  carried  under  the  arm. 

Know-nothings.  A  secret  society  in  the  United  States 
pledged  to  the  checking  of  foreign  immigration  and 
political  influence  by  foreigners  which  came  into 
existence  about  the  year  1848,  and  finally  split  upon 
the  slavery  question  in  i860.  When  asked  what  its 
party  or  political  aims  were,  all  the  members  merely 
replied  :  "I  don't  know;  I  know  nothing." 

Knows  the  Ropes.  Said  of  one  who  thoroughly  under- 
stands his  calling.  A  naval  phrase,  since  a  sailor  must 
know  all  the  ropes  belonging  to  his  ship. 

K'nucks.  In  Canada  the  name  given  to  French  Canadians ; 
elsewhere  to  Canadians  generally.  It  has  been  stated 
on  the  authority  of  an  intelligent  French  Canadian, 
by  way  of  accounting  for  the  origin  of  this  term, 
that  "  the  word  '  Cannuck '  is  a  corruption  of  '  Con- 
naught,'  the  name  we  usually  apply  to  the  Irish,  who 
are  mostly  emigrants  from  that  province  of  Ireland." 

Kohinoor.  A  famous  diamond  which  came  into  the 
possession  of  Queen  Victoria  on  the  annexation  of  the 
Punjaub  in  1849.  Its  name  expresses  the  Hindoo  for 
"  Mountain  of  Light." 

Kolis.  The  nickname  of  the  51st  King's  Own  Light 
Infantry,  from  the  initials  of  their  regimental  name. 

Koordistan.  Pursuant  to  the  Persian  stan,  the  country  of 
the  Koords,  "  fierce,  strong." 

Kopeck.  A  Russian  copper  coin  of  the  value  of  three- 
eights  of  an  English  penny.  So  called  from  kqpye,  the 
native  term  for  a  lance,  because  this  coin  originally  had 
upon  it  the  representation  of  a  lancer  on  horseback. 

Kops  Ale.  A  non-alcoholic  ale  brewed  from  the  best 
Kentish  hops,  and  not  to  be  distinguished  by  appear- 
ances from  the  intoxicant.  The  name  was  chosen  as 
a  near  approach  to  Hops  Ale. 


Koran — Kyrle  Society  187 

Koran.  Properly  Al  Koran>  Arabic  for  "the  book,"  "the 
reading,"  or  "the  thing  to  be  read." 

Koumiss.     A  Mongolian  term  for  an  intoxicating  beverage 

made  by  the  Kalmucks  from  camels'  or  mares'  milk 

by    fermentation    and    distillation.      "  Koumiss "    is 

the  popular  Russian  beverage. 
Kraal.      The  Kaffir  term  for  a  collection  of  huts  shaped 

like  a  beehive  and  arranged  in  circular  form,  a  native 

South  African  village. 
Kremlin.      The   citadel   of  Moscow,  so   called   from  the 

Russian  krem,  a  fortress. 
Krems  White.     A  pigment  extensively  produced  at  Krems 

in  Austria. 

Kreuzer.  A  copper  coin  of  Germany  conspicuous  for  a 
kreuz,  or  cross,  on  its  reverse  side.  Its  value  was  the 
sixtieth  part  of  a  gulden  or  florin. 

Krupp  Gun.  After  its  inventor,  and  made  at  the  famous 
Krupp  Steel  works  at  Essen  in  Germany. 

Kiimmel.  The  German  name  for  a  beverage,  expressive 
of  "Carraway,"  from  the  seeds  of  which  it  is  made. 

Kummerbund.  A  Hindoo  term  for  waistband.  It  became 
current  in  England  two  or  three  years  ago  during  the 
excessively  hot  weather,  when  waistcoats  were  dis- 
carded, and  the  trouser  tops  concealed  by  a  brilliant 
blue  or  scarlet  sash. 

Kurdistan.     See  "  Koordistan." 

Kursaal.  A  place  of  entertainment  at  Southend-on-Sea. 
The  name  is  German,  literally  "Cure-hall,"  expressive 
of  the  public  assembly-room  at  a  "Kurhaus,"  or 
hydropathic  establishment,  corresponding  to  the 
pump-room  at  a  west  of  England  health  resort. 

Kyrle  Society.  A  modern  society  having  for  its  aims  the 
improvement  of  the  homes  of  the  poorer  orders.  It 
originated  with  the  Misses  M.  and  O.  Hill  in  1875, 
and  was  formally  inaugurated  by  Prince  Leopold  a 
couple  of  years  later.  The  title  of  the  society  was 
derived  from    John   Kyrle  of   Ross,   Herefordshire, 


1 88  Labadists — Lacrosse 

whose  artistic  tastes  and  benevolent  disposition  con- 
tributed to  the  happiness  and  well-being  of  the  people 
on  his  estate  and  all  the  country  round  about. 


Labadists.  A  sect  of  Protestant  mystics  founded  in  the 
seventeenth  century  by  Jean  Labadic  of  Bourg, 
Germany. 

La  Belle  Sauvage  Yard.  The  yard  of  the  famous  coach- 
ing inn  of  the  same  name.  The  history  of  this  sign 
was  curious.  Kept  by  Isabelle  Savage,  it  bore  the 
name  of  "The  Bel  Savage";  but  its  sign  was  a  bell 
suspended  within  an  iron  hoop  at  the  top  of  the  usual 
"Ale  Stake."  Hence  its  proper  name  was  "The  Bell 
in  the  Hoop."  When  in  the  year  1616  John  Rolfe 
brought  his  Virginian  bride  Pocohontas  to  London,  the 
story  of  his  remarkable  adventures  had  anticipated  his 
arrival,  and  people  spoke  of  this  Indian  heroine  as 
"La  Belle  Sauvage."  It  was  odd  that  these  strangers 
within  our  gates  should  put  up  at  the  "Bell  Savage," 
and  the  association  resulted  in  the  change  of  title 
on  their  account. 

Labrador.  Called  by  the  Portuguese  navigators  Tierra 
Labrador^  "  cultivatable  land." 

Lackland.  The  surname  of  King  John,  who,  owing  to  his 
thriftlessness,  was  left  entirely  without  provision  at  the 
death  of  his  father,  Henry  II. 

Laconics.  Terse  and  pithy  replies,  so  called  from  the 
Lacons,  which  was  the  name  applied  to  the  Spartans, 
from  the  country  whence  they  came.  When  Philip  of 
Macedon  sent  this  message  to  the  Spartan  magistrates  : 
"  If  I  enter  Laconia  I  will  level  Lacedaemon  to  the 
ground,"  the  reply  was  briefly  :  "  If." 

Lacrosse.  This  name  was  given  to  the  game  by  Charlevoix, 
who,  seeing  it  played  by  some  Alonquin  Indians  with  a 
stick  between  Quebec  and  Three  Rivers,  called  it  le 
jeu  de  la  Crosse. 


Ladbroke  Grove — Laid  in  Lavender    189 

Ladbroke  Grove.  This,  with  the  square  of  the  same  name, 
was  built  upon  by  the  Ladbroke  family,  who  acquired 
the  lease  of  the  land  for  the  purpose. 

Lad  Lane.  A  name  frequently  met  with  in  connection 
with  the  old  coaching  inn,  "The  Swan  with  Two 
Necks."  It  was  a  corruption  of  "Our  Lady  Lane," 
so  called  from  a  statue  of  the  Virgin. 

Ladrones.  Expresses  the  Spanish  for  "thieves,"  the  name 
given  to  those  islands  by  Magellan  because  the  natives 
made  off  with  the  stores  he  had  landed. 

Ladybird.  A  pretty  species  of  beetle  resembling  a  bug, 
and  anciently  called  "Our  Lady's  Bug."  Bug  is  the 
accepted  American  term  for  a  beetle. 

Lady  Day.  The  Feast  of  Our  Lady,  otherwise  of  the 
Annunciation  to  the  Virgin  (25th  March).  Prior  to 
1752  this  was  also  the  first  day  of  the  New  Year;  now 
it  figures  as  Quarter  Day,  when  rents  and  taxes  have 
to  be  paid. 

Lady  Freemason.  The  Hon.  Elizabeth  St  Leger,  niece  of 
Sir  Anthony  St  Leger,  who  founded  the  stakes  named 
after  him  at  Doncaster  Races,  and  daughter  of  Lord 
Doneraile  of  Dublin.  Chancing  to  overhear  the  pro- 
ceedings at  a  Lodge  held  at  her  father's  mansion  she 
was  discovered,  and,  as  the  only  way  out  of  an  un- 
precedented dilemma,  initiated  to  the  craft.  No  other 
female  has  ever  been  made  a  "  Freemason." 

Lager  Beer.  The  German  "  lager  bier "  is  simply  stock 
beer,  the  liquor  being  kept  in  a  lager>  or  cellar,  until  it 
is  sufficiently  ripened  for  consumption.  All  over  the 
United  States  the  demand  for  " Lager"  is  enormous. 

Laid  on  the  Shelf.  A  phrase  implying  that  one's  period 
of  usefulness  has  been  passed.  The  allusion  is  to 
books  read  and  clothes  laid  aside  as  of  no  further 
use. 

Laid  up  in  Lavender.  Something  put  away  very  carefully, 
as   a  good    housewife   preserves    linen    strewn   with 


190        Lake  Erie — Lammas  Day 

lavender  in  a  press  against  moths.  At  times  we  hear 
the  expression  allusive  to  an  article  put  in  pawn. 

Lake  Erie.     See  "  Erie." 

Lake  Huron.     See   "  Huron." 

Lake  Ontario.     See  "  Ontario." 

Lake  School  of  Poets.  A  term  applied  by  The  Edinburgh 
Review  to  the  imitators  of  Wordsworth,  Coleridge,  and 
Southey,  who  communed  with  Nature  in  the  Lake 
District  of  Cumberland  and  Westmoreland. 

Lake  Superior.     The  uppermost  and  principal  of  the  five 

great  lakes  of  North  America. 
Lake  Winnipeg.     See  "  Winnipeg." 
La  Marseillaise.     See  "  Marseillaise." 

Lambeth.  A  corruption  of  "  Lamhithe,"  the  Anglo-Saxon 
for  mud  haven,  or  a  muddy  landing-place. 

Lambeth  Palace.  The  historic  residence  of  the  Arch- 
bishops of  Canterbury. 

Lamb's  Conduit  Street.  After  William  Lambe,  a  wealthy 
cloth  worker,  who  at  his  own  cost  built  "a  faire 
conduit  and  standard  "  in  the  fields  here  off  Holborn 
in  1577. 

Lamb's  Wool.  A  rural  beverage  of  roasted  apple  juice 
and  spiced  ale.  It  received  its  name  from  the  Saxon 
La  Mces  Ubhal%  or  "  Feast  of  the  Apple  Gathering." 
From  lammas  ool  its  further  corruption  was  easy. 

Lame  Duck.  The  name  given  to  a  member  of  the  Stock 
Exchange  who  cannot  meet  his  liabilities  on  settling 
day.  Instead  of  walking  erect,  like  a  man  of  strict 
integrity,  he  ducks  his  head,  and  waddles  off,  well 
knowing  that  he  has  been  black-boarded  and  struck 
off  the  list  of  members. 

Lammas  Day.  The  ancient  name  for  the  first  of  August, 
when  every  parishioner  brought  to  church  a  loaf  made 
of  new  wheat.  The  name  expresses  the  Anglo-Saxon 
for  "loaf  mass,"  and  the  bread  was  a  gift  of  first-fruits 
to  the  clergy.  Its  modern  equivalent  is  the  "Harvest 
Festival." 


Lamp-black — Land  of  Steady  Habits    191 

Lamp-black.  So  called  because  this  pigment  was  at  first 
obtained  by  burning  resinous  matter  over  the  flame 
of  a  lamp. 

Lancaster.     The  Roman  Lunecastray  or  fortified  camp  on 

the  Lune. 
Lancaster  Gun.     After  the  name  of  its  inventor. 

Lancastrians.  During  the  Wars  of  the  Roses  the  partisans 
of  the  House  of  Lancaster  in  the  contest  for  the  crown 
of  England  as  opposed  to  the  House  of  York. 

Lancers.  This  dance  received  its  name  from  a  company 
of  Lancers  who  went  through  the  evolutions  of  a 
quadrille  on  horseback  about  the  year  1836. 

Landau.  After  Landau  in  Germany,  where  it  was  first 
made. 

Landes.  Expresses  the  French  for  heaths.  The  people 
of  this  marshy  and,  in  parts  sandy,  district  walk  on 
long  stilts. 

Landgrave.  The  Anglicised  form  of  the  German  landgraf> 
count,  a  ground  landlord. 

Land  o*  Cakes.  Scotland,  which  has  always  been  cele- 
brated for  its  oatmeal  cakes. 

Land  of  Green  Ginger.  A  square  at  Hull  where,  as 
popularly  thought,  green  ginger  was  anciently  landed 
from  the  river  and  sold  in  open  market.  The  name 
is,  however,  a  corruption  of  "Greenhinger,"  being  the 
land  owned  by  Moses  Greenhinger,  a  boat  builder,  who 
lived  in  Whitefriargate  in  the  seventeenth  century. 
This  is  proved  by  a  letter  of  Sir  Willoughby  Hickman, 
a  candidate  for  the  borough  in  1685.  Therein  he 
states  that  a  coach  took  him  from  the  waterside  to 
the  George  Inn,  "  at  the  corner  of  the  land  of  Moses 
Greenhinger/' 

Land  of  Promise.  The  name  of  a  short  street  in  Hoxton, 
so  called,  sarcastically  no  doubt,  because  it  leads  to 
the  workhouse. 

Land  of  Steady  Habits.  Connecticut,  so  called  on  ac- 
count of  the  excellent  moral  character  of  the  people. 


192     Land  of  Sundown  Seas — Lascar 

Land   of  Sundown   Seas.     Alaska.      "Sundown"    is    an 

Americanism    for    sunset,    just    as "  Sun-up "  is   for 

sunrise. 
Land  o'  the  Leal.      The   Scottish    heaven,    or    "Dixie's 

Land";  according  to   the   Baroness   Nairne's  ballad 

the  word  Leal  means  faithful. 
Land  of  the  Midnight  Sun.     Norway. 

Landscapes     Local  slang  in  the  eastern  counties  for  a 

tramp,  vagrant,  or  "  Loafer." 
Land  Shark.     The  name  given  by  sailors  to  a  boarding- 
house  keeper  in  a  seaport  town  who  preys  upon  them 

by  systematic  overcharges. 
Landwehr.     The  German  equivalent  for  our  volunteers, 

or  soldiers  for  land  defence.     The  term  wehr  means 

bulwark,  defence. 
Lane.     Actors  refer  to  the  Theatre  Royal,  Drury  Lane,  as 

"The  Lane,"  the  playhouse  of  London  par  excellence 

since  the  palmy  days  of  the  Drama. 

Langbourn  Ward.  From  the  long  bourn  or  stream,  of 
which  now  no  trace  remains. 

Langholm  Place.  After  the  mansion  and  grounds  of  Sir 
James  Langham,  which  occupied  what  is  now  the 
street  of  the  same  name. 

Laodicea.  This  ancient  city  was  so  called  after  Laodice, 
the  queen  of  Antiochus  Theos,  who  founded  it. 

Lap  Dog.  One  literally  nursed  in  the  lap  of  luxury. 
Mothers  of  families  are  strangers  to  such  pets. 

Lapsus  Linguae.     Latin  for  "  a  slip  of  the  tongue." 

Largess.  From  the  Latin  largitso,  to  give  freely,  through 
the  French  largesse.  This  word  meant  originally  a  fee 
or  present  bestowed  upon  a  butler  or  head  servant  by 
a  departing  guest.  In  its  modern  acceptation  it  is  a 
distribution  of  money  amongst  a  number  rather  as  a 
matter  of  policy  or  necessity  than  from  choice. 

Lascar.  The  generic  name  for  an  East  Indian  seaman, 
though  it  really  expresses   the  Persian  for  a  soldier, 


Lasso — Laugh  in  your  Sleeve     193 

from  lashkari,  a  camp-follower.  Lascars  were  first 
employed  hy  the  East  Indiamen  homeward  bound. 
Nowadays  all  Asiatic  sailors,  of  whatever  nationality, 
are  called  Lascars. 

Lasso.     From  the  Spanish  lazo,  a  noose. 

Latakia.  A  Turkish  tobacco,  so  called  from  the  place 
(the  ancient  Laodicea)  where  it  is  produced. 

Latch-string  is  always  out.  An  Americanism  for  a  hearty 
welcome  at  all  times,  without  need  for  a  formal 
invitation.  The  allusion  to  the  latch-string  means : 
11  You  have  only  to  walk  in,  like  any  member  of  the 
family." 

Lath.  A  subdivision  of  land  while  certain  portions  of 
Eastern  England  were  held  by  the  Danes,  so  called 
from  the  Norse  "Lathing,"  a  law  assembly. 

Latins.     See  "  Italy." 

Latin  Vulgate.  The  Roman  Catholic  Bible  authorised 
by  the  Council  of  Trent  in  1546.  This  translation  of 
the  Scriptures  was  made  by  St  Jerome  from  the  Greek 
into  the  Latin  or  vulgar  tongue  a.d.  405. 

Latitudinarians.  The  opposers  of  the  High  Church  party, 
and  also  of  the  Puritans,  during  the  Restoration 
period.  Modern  Latitudinarians  are  those  who  hold 
very  broad  views  in  regard  to  orthodox  doctrine. 

Laugh  and  grow  Fat.  In  allusion  to  Democritus,  "  The 
Laughing  Philosopher,"  who  waxed  fat,  and  lived  to  be 
109  years  old. 

Laughing  Philosopher.  Democritus  of  Abdera,  from  his 
habit  of  humorously  exposing  the  absurdities  of  his 
countrymen,  whose  stupidity,  he  declared,  was  pro- 
verbial ;  the  feeble  powers  of  mankind,  contrasted  with 
the  forces  of  nature,  likewise  aroused  his  contempt. 

Laugh  in  your  Sleeve.  Anciently  the  sleeves  of  all  outer 
garments  were  very  wide,  and  when  a  person  covered 
his  face  with  his  hand  there  was  always  a  suspicion 
that  he  was  making  merry  at  someone  else's  dis- 
comfiture. 

N 


194    Laugh  on  the — Lawrence  Lane 

Laugh  on  the  wrong  Side  of  your  Face.  A  person 
may  preserve  a  grave  countenance  while  listening  to  a 
story,  and  at  the  same  time  wink  significantly  to 
a  bystander  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  speaker. 
The  expression  means  that  if,  for  his  insolence,  he 
received  a  castigation,  both  his  eyes  would  be  made 
to  wink  or  blink. 

Laundress.  The  exclusive  designation  of  a  housekeeper 
or  caretaker  of  bachelor  chambers  in  the  Temple. 
This  is  because  during  the  Crusades  a  great  many 
women  of  the  town  followed  in  the  train  of  the  Knights 
Templars  to  the  Holy  Land  for  the  purpose  of  washing 
their  linen.  It  afterwards  transpired  that,  as  a  rule, 
they  acted  also  as  mistresses  to  the  Knights,  and  had 
tents  set  apart  for  them  even  within  sight  of  Jerusalem. 
Historians  tell  us  too  that,  though  a  religious  Order, 
the  Templars  did  not  scruple  to  introduce  these 
women  into  their  London  house  after  their  return  from 
the  seat  of  warfare,  and  this  irregularity,  in  fact,  led  to 
their  suppression  by  Edward  II.  in  13 13. 

Laundried.  An  Americanism  for  "  washed,"  in  relation 
to  household  or  personal  linen.  This,  when  one 
comes  to  look  into  the  word,  is  correct  English, 
meaning  lawn  dried. 

Lavender.  From  the  Latin  verb  lavare,  to  wash,  because 
this  shrub  yields  an  essential  oil  employed  in  medicine 
and  perfumery.  Laundresses  also  use  it  for  preserving 
newly  washed  linen  against  moths. 

Lavender  Water.  A  scent  produced  from  the  essential  oil 
of  lavender,  spirits  of  wine,  and  ambergris. 

Lawing.     An  Americanism  for  "going  to  law." 

Lawless  Parliament.     See  "Parliament  of  Dunces." 

Lawn.  The  finest  linen,  which  has  been  bleached  on  a 
lawn  instead  of  the  usual  drying  ground.  The  green- 
sward called  a  lawn  received  its  name  from  the  Celtic 
allawnt,  a  smooth,  rising  ground. 

Lawrence  Lane.  From  the  Church  of  St  Lawrence,  at 
its  foot,  in  Gresham  Street. 


Law  Sakes — Leading  Article     195 

Law  Sakes.  An  American  corruption  of  the  phrase 
"  For  the  Lord's  sake ! "  which,  current  among  the 
Puritans  of  New  England,  found  its  way  in  this  new 
form  into  neighbouring  states. 

Laws,  Laws-a-me.  A  corruption  of  "  Lord,  have  mercy  on 
me." 

Lawyer.  From  the  old  English  Lawwer^  literally  "law- 
man "  j  the  suffix  is  allied  to  the  Latin  vir9  man. 

Lawyer's  Treat.  A  phrase  implying  that  each  shall  pay 
for  his  own  drinks.  A  lawyer  never  treats  his  clients 
at  a  refreshment  bar;  they  defray  the  cost  between 
them. 

Lay-by.  The  name  given  to  an  article,  generally  clothing, 
purchased  on  the  weekly  instalment  system,  and  laid 
by  on  a  shelf  until  the  whole  amount  has  been  paid  off. 

Lazar-house.  The  old  name  for  a  poor-house,  in  allusion 
to  Lazarus,  who  picked  up  the  crumbs  under  the 
table  at  the  mansion  of  Dives.  On  the  Continent  such 
an  institution  is  styled  a  "  Lazaretto." 

Lazarists.  An  Order  of  missionaries  founded  by  St  Vincent 
de  Paul,  so  called  from  their  headquarters  in  Paris,  the 
Priory  of  St  Lazare,  between  1632  and  1792. 

Lazzaroni.  The  beggars  of  Naples,  and  originally  all  the 
poorest  people  of  that  city  who  had  no  regular  habita- 
tion save  the  streets.  Their  name  was  derived  from 
the  common  refuge,  the  Hospital  of  St  Lazarus. 

Leadenhall  Street.  After  the  edifice  known  as  the  Leaden- 
hall,  the  first  in  London  ever  roofed  with  lead,  built  in 
1419  by  Sir  Simon  Eyre,  and  presented  to  the  city  for 
the  purposes  of  a  granary  in  time  of  scarcity. 

Leading  Article  (or  Leader).  There  are  three  reasons 
for  this  term  applied  to  a  large-type  newspaper  article. 
It  is  supposed  to  be  written  by  the  chief  of  the  literary 
staff,  the  editor ;  it  leads  off  the  foreign  and  all  other 
important  news  on  the  inside  pages  of  the  paper ; 
and  it  is  intended  to  lead  public  opinion  according  to 
the  party  views  maintained  by  the  journal  in  question. 


196    League  of  the  Cross — Leg  Stretcher 

League  of  the  Cross.  The  title  of  a  modern  crusade  among 
the  Roman  Catholics  for  the  total  suppression  of 
drunkenness. 

Leamington.  The  town  in  the  meadow  on  the  banks  of 
the  Leam. 

Leap  Year.  That  which  every  fourth  year  leaps  to  the 
total  of  366  days  by  adding  a  day  to  the  month  of 
February, 

Leather  Lane.     From   "The  Old   Leather  Bottle,"   now 

modernised,  at  the  corner  of  this  lane  and   Charles 

Street. 
Leave  some  for  Manners.     A  dinner-table  phrase,  which 

had   its   origin  in  the  ancient  custom  of  making  an 

offering  of  a  portion  of  the  viands  to  the  gods. 
Lebanon.     From  the  Hebrew  laban,  white  ;  expresses  "  the 

white  mountain." 
Lee.     A  variant  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  lea  and  ley,  "  meadow  " 

or  "  pasture  land."     This  word  enters  into  many  river 

and  place-names. 
Leech.     The  old  name  for  a  medical  man  in  the  days  when 

bleeding  the  patient,  no  matter  what  his  ailment  might 

be,  was  the  common  practice. 

L.  E.  L.  The  literary  pseudonym,  formed  from  the  initials 
of  Letitia  Elizabeth  Landon,  the  poetess. 

Leg  and  Star.  A  corruption  of  "The  Star  and  Garter." 
This,  of  course,  arose  when  a  painted  device,  instead 
of  a  mere  title,  served  as  an  inn  and  tavern  sign. 

Legend.  An  Americanism  for  a  written  or  printed  notice. 
The  term  has  latterly  come  into  use  in  England 
relative  to  a  tradesman's  shop  announcement. 

Legitimate  Drama.  That  which  is  dependent  upon  its 
intrinsic  literary  and  constructive  merits,  quite  apart 
from  scenic  effects. 

Leg  Stretcher.  A  Far  Western  expression  for  a  drink. 
This  arose  from  the  common  travellers'  exclamation 
while  the  stage  coach  was  waiting  for  the  mails  :  "  I'll 
get  off  a  bit,  and  stretch  my  legs." 


Leicester— Let  the  Cat  out  of  Bag    197 

Leicester.  The  Leirecastra  of  the  Romans,  being  the 
fortified  camp  on  the  Leire,  now  called  the  Soar. 

Leicester  Square.  Originally  Leicester  Fields,  from  the 
town  mansion  built  on  its  east  side  by  Robert  Sidney, 
Earl  of  Leicester,  in  1636. 

Leipsic.  Expresses  the  Slavonic  for  linden  or  lime  tree 
town,  from  lipa,  lime-tree. 

Leman  Street.  Properly  "  Lemon  Street,"  from  a  wharf 
at  the  Thames  side,  where,  before  the  construction 
of  the  docks,  lemons  were  landed  and  sold. 

Lemon  Sole.  The  species  of  sole  found  on  the  south 
coast  of  England ;  really  a  mud  sole,  from  the  Latin 
lima,)  mud. 

Lent.  From  the  Anglo-Saxon  lenctcn,  the  spring.  The 
word  has  the  same  origin  as  "lengthen,"  since  at  this 
season  of  the  year  the  lengthening  of  the  days  be- 
comes perceptible. 

Lent  Crocking.  A  popular  old-time  diversion  of  the 
schoolboys  on  Shrove  Tuesday.  The  ringleader, 
having  knocked  at  a  house  door  and  recited  a  garbled 
set  of  verses,  to  the  effect  that  he  had  come  a-shroving^ 
his  companions  kept  up  an  incessant  din  with  old 
saucepans  and  kettles  until  they  were  paid  to  go  away. 

Leonine  Verses.  Those  which  rhyme  both  in  the  middle 
and  at  the  end  of  each  line,  so  called  after  Leoninus, 
a  canon  of  St  Victor  in  Paris  midway  in  the  twelfth 
century. 

Let  the  Cat  out  of  the  Bag.  To  disclose  a  trick  un- 
wittingly. The  illusion  is  to  a  very  old  device  at 
country  fairs  of  selling  a  cat  for  a  sucking  pig.  One 
pig  only  was  exposed  to  view;  all  the  others  were 
supposed  to  be  ready  tied  up  for  carrying  away.  If, 
on  occasion,  a  purchaser  insisted  on  untying  the  sack 
before  paying  for  it,  the  cat  leapt  out,  and  the  fraud 
was  discovered.  As  to  the  other  victims  who  had 
taken  away  theirs  on  trust,  they  were  forced  to  admit, 
because  their  sack  contained  no  sucking  pig,  that  they 
had  been  "sucked  in." 


1 98  Levant — Liberator 

Levant.  An  Italian  term  for  the  Orient  or  East — i.e.  all 
those  parts  of  the  Mediterranean  eastward  of  Italy. 
The  word  is  also  used  in  the  sense  of  to  depart,  and  a 
defaulter  was  said  to  have  levanted,  or  gone  to  the 
Levant.  This  was  in  allusion  to  the  "Grand  Tour" 
which  all  scions  of  the  nobility  were  expected  to  make 
on  reaching  their  majority. 

Levee.  A  French  word  applied  to  a  royal  reception,  from 
lever,  arising,  because  in  former  times  such  a  function 
took  place  in  the  King's  bed-chamber  at  the  hour  of 
rising. 

Levellers.  The  primitive  Radicals  or  Socialists  of  the  time 
of  Charles  I.  and  long  afterwards ;  their  plea  was  that 
all  men  should  be  on  a  common  level  in  regard  to 
office-seeking.  Also  the  original  name  of  the  "  White 
Boys  "  in  Ireland,  who  commenced  their  agrarian  out- 
rages by  levelling  the  hedges  and  fences  on  enclosed 
lands. 

Leviticus.  That  book  of  the  Old  Testament  which  sets 
forth  the  laws  pertaining  to  the  priests  or  Levites,  the 
descendants  of  Levi,  the  third  son  of  Jacob  and  Leah. 

Lewisham.  From  Leesham,  the  home  or  family  settlement 
in  the  meadow.     See  "  Lee." 

Leyden.  Originally  Lugdunum,  the  Latinised  form  of  the 
Celtic  llwch,  a  morass,  and  dun,  a  hill,  fortress. 

Leyton.     The  town  in  the  lea  or  meadow. 

Leytonstone.  A  corruption  of  "Leytonstowe,"  the  stock 
or  wooded  place  in  the  vicinity  of  a  meadow. 

Lhassa.     A  Tibetan  word  for  "full  of  gods." 

Liberal.  The  modern  designation  of  the  Progressive  or 
"Whig"  Party.  This  arose  out  of  Lord  Byron's 
political  magazine,  The  Liberal,  in  1828,  though  the 
name  was  not  formally  assumed  until  the  agitation  for 
the  Reform  Bill  in  1831. 

Liberator.  The  surname  of  Simon  Bolivar,  who  established 
the  independence  of  Peru. 


Liberia — Lincoln  1 99 

Liberia.  An  independent  republic  of  free  Negroes  on  the 
west  coast  of  Africa.  The  word  is  derived  from  the 
Latan  fiber,  free,  and  the  Celtic  suffix  ia,  country. 

Library.  From  the  Latin  librarium,  a  bookcase,  through 
liber,  a  book. 

Lifting.  This  technical  term  in  the  printing  trade, 
because  type  is  lifted  out  of  the  columns  prior  to 
distribution,  or,  as  may  happen  in  a  newspaper,  to  be 
held  over  until  the  next  issue  for  want  of  space,  has 
come  to  be  applied  by  journalists  to  literary  theft. 
Facts,  anecdotes,  or  jokes  stolen  from  a  contribution 
submitted  to  an  editor  on  approval  are  said  to  have 
been  "lifted."  One  newspaper,  too,  often  "lifts" 
matter  from  another  without  acknowledgment. 

Light.  A  journeyman  printer's  term  for  "credit." 
Derived  from  the  old  saying :  "  He  stands  in  a  good 
light  with  his  neighbours."  The  boast :  "  My  light  is 
good,"  has  about  it  little  to  find  fault  with. 

Lignorians.  Another  name  for  the  Redemptorists  or 
Preachers  of  the  Redemption,  an  Order  founded  by 
St  Francis  Liguori  in  1732. 

Like  a  Thousand  of  Brick.  An  Americanism  for  very 
heavily,  as  if  a  waggon-load  of  bricks  had  been 
dumped  down  on  one. 

Lille.     Properly  Lisle,  the  island. 

Lima.  A  Spanish  corruption  of  the  Peruvian  Rima,  the 
name  of  the  river  on  which  it  is  situated. 

Limavady.  From  the  Irish  Leim-a-madha,  "The  Dog's 
Leap." 

Limehouse.  A  corruption  of  Limehurst,  or  wood  of  lime- 
trees. 

Lime  Street.     Where  lime  was  sold  in  ancient  times. 

Limoges.  Anciently  called  "Lemovica,"  from  the 
Lemovices,  the  people  who  settled  in  this  portion  of 
Gaul. 

Lincoln.     Originally  Llyn-dun,  the  Celtic  for  "  Pool  hill," 


200    Lincoln  College — Lion  Comique 

or  the  town  built  on  the  eminence  overlooking  the 
Swanpool,  which  was  not  drained  until  the  eighteenth 
century.  When  the  Romans  established  themselves 
here  they  called  it  Lindum  Colonia,  or  the  colony 
beside  the  pool.  Of  this  name,  therefore,  Lincoln  is 
a  softened  abbreviation. 

Lincoln  College.  Founded  at  Oxford  by  Richard  Fleming, 
Bishop  of  Lincoln,  in  1427. 

Lincoln's  Inn.  Anciently  the  town  mansion  of  the  Earls  of 
Lincoln,  built  by  Henry  de  Lacey,  Earl  of  Lincoln,  in 
the  fourteenth  century. 

Line  of  Business.  A  theatrical  phrase  for  the  special 
kind  of  parts  in  which  an  actor  is  experienced.  One 
who  plays  the  "Juveniles"  would  not  be  entrusted 
with  an  "Old  Man's"  part,  and  so  forth. 

Liner.  A  steamship  belonging  to  a  regular  line  or  service 
of  fast  sailers — e.g.  the  Cunard  Line. 

Lingo.  Slang  for  language,  derived  from  the  Latin 
lingua,  the  tongue. 

Lingua  Franca.  A  common  language  along  the  Medi- 
terranean shores,  being  a  mixture  of  French  and 
Italian.     See  "  Lingo/' 

Linoleum.  A  floorcloth,  into  the  manufacture  of  which 
linseed  oil  enters  largely. 

Linseed  Lancers.  The  nickname  of  the  Army  Medical 
Corps. 

Lion.  An  ancient  inn  sign  derived  from  the  heraldic 
device  of  a  particular  monarch,  or  it  might  be,  the 
Lord  of  the  Manor.  According  to  the  colour  of  the 
animal  in  that  device,  so  the  name  of  the  inn,  after  a 
mere  name  was  substituted  for  the  painted  represen- 
tation, came  to  be  designated.  Hence  "Red  Lion," 
"  Black  Lion,"  etc. 

Lion  and  Key.  A  corruption  of  "The  Lion  on  the 
Quay,"  by  way  of  distinguishing  an  inn  or  tavern  from 
other  Lions  in  the  same  seaport. 

Lion    Comique.       The     name     bestowed    upon    George 


Lionise — Little  John  201 

Leybourne  and  other  music-hall  vocalists  of  his  class 
in  days  when  comic  singing  was  very  different  to  what 
it  is  now.  The  modern  type  of  vocal  comedians  is, 
happily,  not  "lionised"  in  the  strict  sense  of  the 
word. 
Lionise.     See  "  Lion  of  the  Season." 

Lion  of  the  Season.  A  distingushed  musical  executant 
or  other  celebrity,  generally  a  foreigner,  at  whose 
shrine  society  metaphorically  worships  while  his  fame 
is  at  its  zenith.  The  expression  is  the  outcome  of  the 
anxiety  of  the  country  folk  in  former  days  to  see  the 
"London  Lion  "  at  the  Tower.  Hence  to  "lionise," 
make  the  most  of  a  "  stranger  within  our  gates." 

Lion  Sermon.  This  is  delivered  once  a  year  at  the 
Church  of  St  Katherine  Cree  in  commemoration  of 
Sir  John  Gayer's  miraculous  escape  from  death  by  a 
lion  when  he  found  himself  separated  from  his  com- 
panions in  the  African  desert.  He  bequeathed  the 
sum  of  ^200  a  year  to  the  poor  on  condition  of  this 
sermon  being  annually  preached. 

Lisbon.  Anciently  Olisipo  or  Ulyssippo,  after  Ulysses, 
who,  visiting  Portugal  with  Lucus,  is  traditionally 
stated  to  have  laid  the  foundations  of  the  city. 

Lisson  Grove.  Formerly  Lidstone  Green,  a  corruption  of 
"  Ossulton  Green,"  the  name  of  a  Hundred  cited  in 
Domesday  Book.  Ossulton  Street  in  the  Euston 
Road  preserves  the  name  in  the  original  form. 

Litany.      See  "Rogation  Days." 

Little  Bit  of  All  Right.  A  popular  expression  meaning 
"Just  the  thing  I  wanted,"  or  "It  couldn't  have  hap- 
pened better." 

Little  Britain.  From  the  ancient  residence  of  the  Dukes 
of  Brittany. 

Little  Corporal.  The  name  bestowed  upon  Napoleon  I., 
at  the  commencement  of  his  military  career,  from  his 
rank  and  low  stature. 

Little  John.    The  real  name  of  this  Sherwood  forester 


202  Little  Man — Lloyd's 

was  John  Little,  but  Robin  Hood  playfully  inverted  it 
because  its  owner  was  a  tall,  strapping  fellow. 

Little  Man.  The  affectionate  sobriquet  of  the  late  Mr 
Alfred  Beit,  the  "  Diamond  King,"  on  account  of  his 
diminutive  stature. 

Little  Mary.  A  modern  euphonism  for  the  stomach, 
popularised  by  J.  M.  Barrie's  successful  comedy  of 
this  title. 

Little  too  Thick.  The  antithesis  of  a  "  thin  "  story  ;  one 
so  crowded  with  extraordinary  statements  that  it  is 
hard  to  grasp  or  credit. 

Little  Turnstile.  The  lesser  turnstile  on  the  north  side 
of  Lincoln's  Inn  Fields,  set  up  to  prevent  sheep  from 
straying  into  Holborn. 

Live  like  Fighting  Cocks.  From  the  days  of  the  Greeks 
down  to  comparatively  modern  times  game-cocks  were 
fed  luxuriantly,  so  as  to  increase  their  pugnacity; 
hence  the  application  of  the  phrase  to  good  living. 

Live  Man.  An  Americanism  for  an  energetic  agent  or 
canvasser. 

Liverpool.  From  an  extinct  bird,  somewhat  resembling 
the  heron,  and  called  the  liver,  that  made  the/00/on 
which  this  city  was  built  its  home. 

Liverpool  Landseer.  The  sobriquet  of  William  Huggins, 
who  acquired  an  equal  celebrity  for  animal  painting  in 
his  native  place,  as  Sir  Edwin  Landseer  in  the  country 
at  large. 

Liverpool  Street.  After  Lord  Liverpool,  one  of  the  most 
popular  members  of  the  Ministry  at  the  accession  of 
George  IV.  There  is  another  Liverpool  Street  named 
after  him  at  King's  Cross. 

Liverymen.  Freemen  of  the  city  of  London  who  on 
great  special  occasions  wear  the  distinctive  livery  of 
the  companies  to  which  they  belong. 

Llandaff.     Properly  Llan  Tqf,  the  church  on  the  Taff. 

Lloyd's.      After  Edward  Lloyd,  a  coffee-house  keeper  in 


LL  Whisky — Loco-Focos         203 

Abchurch  Lane,  whose  premises  were  first  used  by 
merchants  and  shippers  as  a  sort  of  club. 

LL  Whisky.  That  distilled  by  Messrs  Kinahan  of 
Dublin.  When  the  Duke  of  Richmond  was  Lord- 
Lieutenant  of  Ireland  between  1807  and  18 13  he  in 
the  former  year  sent  to  various  distilleries  for  samples 
of  good  whisky,  and  preferring  that  tendered  by 
Messrs  Kinahan,  he  ordered  a  large  vat  of  the  same 
quality  to  be  exclusively  reserved  for  him.  This  vat 
had  LL  painted  on  it,  denoting  "  Lord-Lieutenant 
Whisky." 

Lo.  An  American  term  for  an  Indian.  This  originated 
in  Pope's  "  Essay  on  Man,"  a  couplet  of  which  reads  : 

"  Lo,  the  poor  Indian  !  whose  untutored  mind 
Sees  God  in  clouds  or  hears  Him  in  the  wind." 

Loaded.  An  Americanism  for  intoxicated  or  "primed." 
Loafer.  This  word  is  neither  Dutch  nor  German,  as 
generally  stated  ;  it  is  distinctly  Spanish-American. 
The  early  settlers  of  Mexico  and  Texas  gave  the  name 
oigallofo  to  a  vagrant,  who,  like  the  lazzaroni  of  Naples, 
hung  about  the  churches  begging  for  alms.  From  the 
western  states  this  word  travelled  to  New  York,  and 
in  the  process  became  changed  into  "  Loafer." 

Loan.      An  Americanism  for  "lend." 

Lock-out.  When  artisans  have  struck  for  an  advance  of 
wages,  and  afterwards  decide  to  return  to  work  on  the 
former  scale,  the  masters  retaliate  by  shutting  them 
out  of  the  works  altogether  and  employing  fresh  hands 
from  elsewhere. 

Lock,  Stock,  and  Barrel.  A  sportsman's  phrase  for  the 
whole  of  a  thing,  in  allusion  to  the  three  parts  of  a 
gun.  In  the  modern  sense  it  is  used  to  imply  the 
complete  discomfiture  of  an  adversary  in  argument 
or  of  one  utterly  outwitted  in  his  schemes. 

Loco-Focos.  The  American  term  for  lucifer  matches.  By 
a  patent  dated  16th  April  1834  John  Marck,  a  store- 
keeper of  Park  Row,  New  York,  brought  out  a  self- 


204  Loft — Lollards 

lighting  or  friction  cigar,  which  he  called  a  Loco-Foco. 
The  first  portion  of  this  name  was  taken  from  the 
newly  introduced  locomotive,  which  people  generally 
thought  to  mean  self-moving;  the  latter  half  was  a 
euphonism  of  his  own.  When  friction  or  self-firing 
matches  came  in  they  received  the  same  designation. 
The  Democratic  Party  of  the  United  States  received 
the  name  of  "Loco-Focos"  from  the  circumstance 
that  at  a  great  general  meeting  held  in  Tammany  Hall 
to  confirm  the  nomination  of  Gideon  Lee  as  the 
Democratic  candidate  for  Congress,  a  tumult  arose, 
and  the  lights  were  turned  out;  whereupon  the 
adherents  of  the  candidate,  who  had  provided  them- 
selves with  loco-focos  and  candles,  relighted  the  hall 
in  a  moment. 

Loft.  An  Americanism  for  storey.  In  the  United  States 
it  is  usual  to  say  a  house  contains  so  many  "lofts" 
instead  of  storeys. 

Logger.  One  employed  in  the  North  American  forests 
cutting  down  trees  and  sawing  them  into  logs. 

Loggerhead.  A  dull,  stupid  fellow  with  no  more  sense 
in  his  head  than  a  "logger"  or  lumberman.  These 
loggers  often  quarrel  for  no  visible  cause ;  hence  the 
expression  to  be  "at  loggerheads." 

Log-rolling.  Primarily  a  political  term  descriptive  of 
mutual  co-operation  on  the  part  of  individuals  for 
the  furtherance  of  a  general  cause.  It  means  :  "  You 
help  me  and  I'll  help  you  " ;  "  If  your  party  further  my 
Bill  through  Congress  I'll  pledge  my  party  to  push 
yours  along  too."  The  expression  obtains  also  in  a 
social  and  journalistic  sense:  "If  I  propose  a  testi- 
monial for  you  I  expect  you  to  do  the  same  for  me"  ; 
"I'll  write  you  up  in  the  Press  if  you  engage  to 
return  the  compliment."  For  the  origin  of  the  term 
we  must  look  to  the  lumber  regions  of  the  state  of 
Maine,  where  the  loggers  of  different  camps  assist  one 
another  by  turns  to  roll  their  logs  down  to  the  river. 

Lollards.  Originally  an  association  of  pious  people  in 
Germany  at  the  commencement  of  the  thirteenth  cen- 


Lombard  Street— London  Lion    205 

tury  banded  together  for  the  purpose  of  burying  the 
dead.  They  were  so  called  on  account  of  the  solemn 
dirges  they  sang,  from  the  Low  German  lollen,  to  sing 
softly.  After  a  time  the  same  title  was  assumed  by 
the  followers  of  one  Walter  Goilard,  a  dissolute  priest, 
who  was  burned  for  heresy  at  Cologne  in  1322.  The 
Wycliffites  assumed  this  name  still  later,  and  some 
of  these  it  must  have  been  who  were  imprisoned  in 
the  "Lollards'  Tower,"  Lambeth  Palace. 

Lombard  Street.  From  the  Jews  of  Lombardy,  who  here 
set  up  banks  and  money-lending  establishments,  at  the 
instance  of  Pope  Gregory  IX.,  as  a  means  of  assisting 
the  people  of  England  to  raise  money  for  the  payment 
of  their  taxes  early  in  the  thirteenth  century. 

Lombardy.  Called  by  the  Romans  Longobardi  after  its 
people,  whom  they  subdued.  This  name  was  not 
derived  from  their  long  beards,  as  generally  stated, 
but  from  the  longis  bardis,  or  long  battle-axes,  with 
which  they  were  armed. 

London.  This  name  claims  the  same  origin  as  "  Lincoln," 
the  first  rude  habitations  beside  the  Thames  being 
situated  on  the  rising  ground  now  known  as  Tower 
Hill. 

London  Bridge  was  built  on  Woolpacks.  This  expres- 
sion had  its  origin  in  the  fact  that,  when  the  construc- 
tion of  Old  London  Bridge  was  stopped  for  want  of 
funds,  Henry  II.  expedited  its  completion  by  imposing 
a  tax  upon  wool. 

Londonderry.  The  town  built  by  a  company  of  London 
adventurers,  to  whom  it,  with  the  county  of  the  same 
name,  was  granted  by  a  royal  charter  of  James  I. 
Derry  is  Celtic  for  a  grove  or  oak  forest. 

London  Lion.  An  expression  derived  from  the  Royal 
Menagerie  at  the  Tower  of  London  ere  the  metropolis 
rejoiced  in  a  Zoological  Gardens,  and  when  travelling 
menageries  were  unheard  of.  Country  visitors  up  in 
town  for  a  few  days  never  failed  at  that  period  to  feast 
their  eyes  upon  a  real  live  lion,  and  on  returning  to 
their  homes  boasted  of  having  seen  the  London  Lion. 


206    London  Stone — Look  Daggers 

London  Stone.  Marked  the  centre  of  Roman  London, 
from  which  all  the  great  roads  through  the  country 
radiated. 

London  Wall.  From  the  Roman  wall  which  here  denned 
the  northern  limits  of  the  city.  A  portion  of  this  old 
wall  may  yet  be  seen  in  Cripplegate  Churchyard. 

Lone  Star   State.     Texas,  from  the  single  star  in  her  flag. 

Long  Acre.  The  Anglo-Saxon  acer,  like  the  modern 
German  acker,  expresses  a  field.  This  was  anciently 
a  path  across  the  fields  between  Lincoln's  Inn  and 
"Lomesbury  Village,"  or  the  manor  now  known  as 
Bloomsbury  in  the  parish  of  St  Giles's-in-the-Fields. 

Long  Friday.  The  old  name  for  Good  Friday,  both  on 
account  of  the  length  of  the  Church  service  and  the 
long  fast  imposed  on  all  good  Catholics. 

Longford.      The  long  ford  on  the  River  Camlin. 

Long  Island.     So  called  from  its  shape. 

Long  Lane.  This  was  a  long,  narrow  lane  extending  from 
Barbican  to  Farringdon  Road  before  the  greater  por- 
tion of  its  one  side  was  cleared  for  the  Smithfield 
Market. 

Long  Lane  that  has  no  Turning.  An  expression  mean- 
ing that  sooner  or  later  a  turn  of  fortune  must  come, 
since  no  lane,  however  long,  exists  that  has  no  turning. 

Long  Peter.  This  name  was  merited  by  the  celebrated 
Flemish  painter,  Peter  Aartsen,  by  reason  of  his 
abnormal  stature. 

Long  Parliament.  That  which  was  dissolved  by  Oliver 
Cromwell  after  it  had  lasted  more  than  twelve  years. 

Longshanks.     The  surname  of  Edward  I.  on  account  of 

his  spindle  legs. 
Longshoreman.      Properly  "  Along-shoreman  " — namely,  a 

wharfinger,  or  one  employed  in  loading  and  unloading 

vessels. 

Look  Daggers.  A  phrase  used  when  two  persons  look 
fixedly  at  each  other  as  if  their  eyes  were  dagger 
points  ready  to  make  a  fatal  thrust. 


Loosen  your  Purse  Strings — Louvre    207 

Loosen   your  Purse  Strings.     See  "Purse  Strings." 

Lord  Bobs.  The  later  nickname  of  Lord  Roberts  since 
the  close  of  the  South  African  War. 

Lord's  Cricket  Ground.  After  Thomas  Lord,  the  founder 
of  the  earliest  private  Cricket  Club  in  London,  in  1780. 
First  in  Dorset  Square,  and  eventually  on  its  present 
site — his  own  landed  property — he  set  up  a  private 
pitch  for  genteel  folk  far  from  the  haunts  of  the  city 
apprentices  and  other  enthusiasts  of  the  game. 

Lord's  Day.     The  name  given  to  Sunday  by  the  Quakers. 

Lordship   Lane.     From  the  Lord  of  the  Manor  of  Dulwich. 

Loretto.  Called  by  the  Romans  Lauretana  after  Laureta, 
the  lady  to  whom  the  country  villa,  and  a  large  tract  of 
land  on  which  the  town  was  afterwards  built,  belonged. 

Lorraine.  Anciently  Lotharingia,  the  duchy  of  Lotbarius 
II.,  grandson  of  the  Emperor  Lewis  I. 

Los  Angeles.  Originally  called  by  the  Spaniards  "  Pueblo 
de  los  Angeles,"  the  city  of  the  angels,  on  account  of 
its  delightful  situation  and  climate. 

Lo  Spagnoletto.  The  surname  of  Guiseppe  Ribera,  the 
celebrated  Spanish  painter.  It  means  "  Little  Spaniard." 

Lothbury.  A  corruption  of  "Lattenbury,"  where  the 
workers  in  latten  ware,  a  species  of  bronze,  had  their 
shops  in  the  Middle  Ages.  In  the  modern  sense 
latten  is  a  kind  of  sheet  brass. 

Loudoun  Road.     After  the  name  of  the  builder  on  the 

estate. 
Louis   d'Or.     A  gold  coin   first   struck   in   the    reign   of 

Louis  XIII.  of  France.     The  name  means  a  "  Louis  of 

gold." 
Louisiana.      The    name   bestowed    upon   this    State    by 

M.  de  la  Sale  in  1682  in  compliment  to  Louis  XIV. 

of  France. 

Louvre.  An  adapted  French  word,  from  Pouvert,  "the 
opening,"  which  expressed  a  kind  of  turret  on  the  roof 
of  a  building  by  way  of  a  chimney  to  let  out  the  smoke. 


208    Lower  Berkeley  Street — Luddites 

A  rude  contrivance  of  this  kind  distinguished  the 
ancient  hunting  seat  of  Dagobert,  on  the  site  of  which 
Francis  I.  commenced  the  famous  Parisian  palace  of 
this  name  in  1528,  completed  twenty  years  later  by 
Henry  II.  A  louvre  window  partakes  of  the  same 
character. 
Lower  Berkeley  Street.  See  "  Berkeley  Street." 
Lower  Thames  Street.  The  eastern  portion  of  Thames 
Street,  from  London  Bridge  to  the  Tower. 

Lowndes  Square.  After  the  ground  landlord,  lineally 
descended  from  William  Loundes,  secretary  to  the 
Treasury,  temp.  Queen  Anne. 

Low  Sunday.  Not  only  was  this  Sunday  at  the  bottom  of 
the  Lenten  or  Easter  Calendar,  but  prior  to  the  altera- 
tion of  New  Year's  Day  it  was  frequently  also  the  last 
Sunday  of  the  year. 

Luciferians.  A  sect  of  Christians  in  the  fourth  century, 
under  Lucifer,  Bishop  of  Cagliari  in  Sardinia,  who 
separated  from  the  Orthodox  Church  on  the  ground 
that  the  reconverted  "Arians"  should  not  again  be 
admitted  to  the  fold. 

Lucifer  Matches.  Early  friction  matches,  so  called  from 
the  Latin  lucis,  light,  and  ferre,  to  bring. 

Lucullus  Feast.  A  sumptuous  banquet,  so  called  after 
Licinius  Lucullus,  a  famous  Roman  general,  who  in 
the  days  of  his  retirement  was  no  less  distinguished  for 
the  costly  suppers  he  gave  to  the  greatest  men  of  the 
Empire.  The  sums  expended  on  those  entertainments 
were  enormous.  As  an  epicure  he  was  unrivalled ;  he 
could  also  be  a  glutton  on  occasion.  There  is  a  story 
told  that  after  the  feast  had  been  prepared  no  guests 
arrived.  "  Lucullus  will  sup  to-night  with  Lucullus  " 
was  the  explanation  of  the  host. 

Lud-a-massy.  A  corruption  of  the  old  exclamation  "  Lord, 
have  mercy  ! " 

Luddites.  A  name  borne  by  the  wilful  destroyers  of 
machinery  in  the  manufacturing  disticts ;  said  to  have 
been  adopted  from  Ned  Lud,  an  imbecile  of  Leicester, 


Ludgate  Hill— Lurid  Waistcoat    209 

who  being,  chased  by  boys,  took  refuge  in  a  house,  and 
there  broke  a  couple  of  stocking  frames.  These  rioters 
caused  great  havoc  during  the  second  decade  of  the 
last  century. 

Ludgate  Hill.  The  testimony  of  Old  Stow  notwithstand- 
ing, there  is  grave  doubt  whether  King  Lud,  the  re- 
puted builder  of  the  western  gate  of  the  city,  ever 
existed.  In  much  greater  likelihood  this  gate  received 
its  name  from  its  situation  near  the  River  Fleet,  and 
meant  simply  Flood  Gate.     See  "  Fleet  Street." 

Lug.  Northern  and  Scottish  for  "  ear."  In  England  gener- 
ally this  word  is  regarded  as  slang  except  when  em- 
ployed in  connection  with  "  Lugger"  and  "  Luggage." 

Luggage.  So  called  because  it  is  lugged  about  in  transit 
by  the  handles,  as  a  Lancashire  man  would  pull 
another  by  the  lug  or  ear. 

Lugger.      A  small  craft  having  lugs,  or  drooping  sails,  like 

a  dog's  ear. 
Lumber.     An  Americanism  for  timber  sawn  into  logs  and 

sent  floating  down  the  rivers  for  eventual  shipment. 

Lumber-room.  One  set  apart  for  odds  and  ends  of  no 
practical  utility.  The  name  is  derived  from  "Lombard 
Room,"  in  which  the  Lombards,  who  were  the  first 
goldsmiths  and  money-lenders  in  England,  stored  the 
articles  pledged  with  them. 

Lunatic.  From  the  Latin  luna,  the  moon.  The  Romans 
persistently  cherished  the  idea  that  a  person's  mind 
was  affected  at  the  several  changes  of  the  moon. 

Lupercalia.  A  Roman  festival  in  honour  of  Lupercus, 
the  god  of  fertility.  This  occurred  on  the  15th  of 
February. 

Lupus  Street.     This  keeps  alive  the  name  of  Henry  Lupus, 

first  Earl  of  Chester,  from  whom  the  Grosvenors,  the 

ground  landlords,  are  descended. 
Lurid  Waistcoat  Banquet.     The  latest   style  of  "Freak 

Dinner  "  in  America,  each  guest  disporting  himself  in 

a  waistcoat  of  startling  hue  and  design. 
o 


210  Lutherans — Lynch  Law 

Lutherans.     After  Martin  Luther,  the  German  Reformer. 

Luxembourg.  This  celebrated  palace  of  the  French 
capital  stands  on  the  site  of  that  purchased  and 
enlarged  in  1583  by  the  Duke  of  d'Epinay,  Luxem- 
bourg. The  title  of  the  Dukes  of  Luxembourg  is  very 
ancient,  having  been  derived  from  a  beautiful  chateau 
called  Luici  durgum,  which  was  acquired  by  Siegfried, 
Count  of  Ardennes,  in  963. 

Lyceum  Theatre.  Opened  in  1834  as  the  English  Opera 
House.  This  was  originally  a  lyceum  or  academical 
establishment  connected  with  the  Society  of  Arts. 
The  word  Lyceum  was  correctly  applied  in  this  case 
from  the  academy  formed  by  Aristotle  in  the  temple 
of  Apollo  Lyceus,  near  the  River  Illissus. 

Lych-G-ate.  A  large  gateway  at  the  entrance  to  the  church- 
yard where  the  coffin  can  be  set  down  while  the 
mourners  await  the  arrival  of  the  clergyman  to  lead 
the  funeral  service.  The  word  comes  from  the  Gothic 
leik,  and  German  leiche,  a  corpse. 

Lyddite.  So  called  because  experiments  with  this  ex- 
plosive were  first  made  at  Lydd  in  Kent. 

Lying  around  Loose.  An  Americanism  for  being  out  of 
a  situation,  lounging  about  the  town. 

Lyme  Regis.  This  little  Dorsetshire  seaport  on  the  River 
Lym  was  honoured  with  a  royal  charter  and  the  title 
of  Regis  because  it  furnished  Edward  III.  with  three 
ships  to  aid  in  the  siege  of  Calais  in  1346. 

Lynch  Law.  The  summary  justice  meted  out  to  public 
offenders  in  the  western  states  of  North  America. 
This  term  was  derived  from  James  Lynch,  a  farmer 
of  Piedmont  on  the  western  frontier  of  Virginia. 
There  being  no  Court  of  Law  for  many  miles  around 
he  was  always  appealed  to  in  cases  requiring  a  legal 
decision,  and  his  judgments  were  so  sound  and  im- 
partial that  the  people  gave  him  the  name  of  Judge 
Lynch.  The  death  sentence  was  by  hanging  at  the 
nearest  tree.     To  "lynch  a  man,"  however,  in   the 


Lynn  Regis— Macclesfield  Street    2 1 1 

modern  sense  is   to   dispense   with  legal  formalities 

altogether. 
Lynn  Regis.     See  "  King's  Lynn." 
Lyon  King  at  Arms.     The  principal  at  Heralds'  College 

in  Scotland,  so  called  from  the  lion  rampant  on  the 

armorial  bearings  of  the  Scottish  kings. 

Lyre  Bird.  So  called  from  the  resemblance  of  the  sixteen 
feathers  of  its  tail  when  spread  erect  to  a  lyre. 

M 

Ma'am.     An  Americanism  for  mother.     See  "  Madam." 

Ma'am  School.  The  American  term  for  a  young  ladies' 
seminary,  or  an  infants'  school  kept  by  a  woman. 

Macadamised  Road.  This  system  of  road-making  by 
means  of  broken  stones  pressed  down  by  a  heavy 
roller  was  introduced  by  John  Loudon  Macadam,  a 
Scotsman,  appointed  Surveyor  of  Public  Roads  in  1827. 

Macaroni.  From  the  Italian  macare^  to  crush,  to  bruise, 
through  Macarone^  a  mixture,  a  medley.  This  con- 
fection originally  consisted  of  cheese  and  bread  paste 
squeezed  into  balls. 

Macaronies.  Fashionable  dandies  first  heard  of  in  London 
after  the  accession  of  George  III.  Their  leaders 
hailed  from  France  and  Italy,  where  Macaroni  Clubs 
abounded.  These  clubs  arose  out  of  Dilettante 
Societies,  formed  for  the  cultivation  of  what  was  styled 
Macaronic  Verse,  after  a  poetical  rhapsody  entitled 
"  Liber  Macaronicorum,"  a  jumble  of  Latin  and  other 
languages  published  by  a  monk  of  Mantua  in  1520. 
Subsequently  everything  in  dress  or  taste  received  the 
name  of  Macaroni. 

Macaroon.  A  biscuit  the  name  of  which  has  the  same 
etymology  as  "  Macaroni." 

Macassar  Oil.  So  called  because  it  was  first  exported 
from  Macassar,  the  Dutch  capital  of  Celebes  Island. 

Macclesfield  Street.  After  the  Earl  of  Macclesfield,  the 
landlord  of  the  estate  when  it  was  laid  out  in  1697. 


212         Macedonians — Mad  Poet 

Macedonians.  A  fourth  century  sect  of  Christians  founded 
by  Macedonius,  Patriarch  of  Constantinople. 

Machinaw.  A  heavy  blanket  worn  by  Indians,  and  also 
nowadays  in  the  western  states  used  as  a  travelling 
rug  and  bed  pallet.  The  term  is  derived  from 
Machinac  (pronounced  Machinaw),  the  chief  trading 
station  with  the  Indians  formerly.  Western  settlers 
also  describe  an  overcoat  as  a  Machinaw. 

Machine.  A  bicycle  is  called  a  machine  because  it  is  a 
V  more  or  less  complicated  piece  of  mechanism  made  up 

of  many  parts.  In  the  United  States  the  term  machine 
is  applied  both  to  a  locomotive  and  a  fire  engine. 

Mackenzie  River.  After  Alexander  Mackenzie,  by  whom 
it  was  first  navigated  in  1789. 

Mackerel.     From  the  Danish  mackreel,  "spots." 

Mackintosh.  After  the  Scotsman  who  invented  water- 
proofing material  for  over-garments. 

Macklin  Street.  After  Charles  Macklin,  the  celebrated 
actor  of  Drury  Lane  Theatre.  His  name  was  really 
Maclaughlin  shortened  into  Macklin. 

Macmillanites.  An  ofTshoot  of  the  Presbyterians  under 
John  Macmillan;  also  styled  the  "Reformed  Pres- 
bytery." 

Madagascar.  A  corruption  of  the  native  name  Malagasay, 
the  island  of  the  Malagese  or  Malays. 

Madam.  In  New  England  the  term  applied  to  the  de- 
ceased wife  of  a  person  of  local  distinction,  such  as 
the  parson,  doctor,  etc.  In  the  southern  states  it 
expresses  the  mistress  or  master's  wife  universally 
among  the  Negroes.  Elsewhere  it  is  either  Madam  or 
Ma'am  for  a  mother. 

Mad  Cavalier.  Prince  Rupert,  so  called  on  account  of 
his  n  sh  courage  and  lack  of  self-control. 

Mad  Dog.  A  skull  cap,  from  the  old  idea  that  keeping 
the  head  impervious  to  air  was  a  remedy  against  the 
bite  of  a  dog. 

Mad  Poet.     Nathaniel  Lee,  who  wrote  some  of  his  finest 


Mad  as  a  Hatter — Maffiking      213 

pieces  while  confined  during  four  years  at  Bethlehem 
Hospital. 

Mad  as  a  Hatter.  A  corruption  of  "  Mad  as  an  after." 
Atter  expressed  the  Saxon  for  a  viper  or  adder. 
The  word  "  Mad "  was  anciently  used  in  the  sense 
of  venomous;  hence  this  expression  really  meant 
"  venomous  as  a  viper." 

Mad  as  a  March  Hare.  Being  their  rutting  season,  hares 
are  very  wild  in  March. 

Made  a  bad  Break.  An  Americanism  for  having  made  a 
silly  slip  of  the  tongue,  a  sad  mistake,  or  a  great 
blunder.  The  expression  is,  of  course,  derived  from  a 
game  of  billiards. 

Made  his  Pile.  Although  a  Californian  phrase  for  having 
amassed  a  fortune,  this  originated  at  the  gaming-tables 
throughout  the  States  generally. 

Madeira.  Expresses  the  Portuguese  for  "  timber."  This 
island  was  at  the  time  of  its  discovery  covered  with 
forests.  Also  the  name  of  a  rich  wine  imported  there- 
from. 

Madeleine.  The  church  at  Paris  dedicated  to  Mary  Mag- 
dalen or  Mary  of  Magdala. 

Maddox  Street.  After  the  name  of  the  builder  upon  the 
land  in  1720. 

Madras.  From  the  Arabic  Madrasa,  "university."  Orig- 
inally Madrasa  Pattan,  the  name  expressed  "  Univer- 
sity town."     Pattan  is  Sanscrit  for  town. 

Madrid.  In  the  tenth  century  this  was  simply  a  Moorish 
fortified  outpost  of  Toledo,  as  expressed  by  its  Arabic 
name,  Majerit. 

Maelstrom.  Expresses  the  Norwegian  for  an  eddy  or 
whirlpool;  literally  "  whirling  stream." 

Maffiking.  A  word  used  to  denote  the  madness  which 
may  seize  upon  an  entire  community  on  an  occasion 
of  great  public  rejoicing,  as  happened  when  news  of 
the  relief  of  Mafeking,  during  the  South  African  War, 
reached   England.      Staid  citizens — bankers,    stock- 


214  Magazine — Mahogany 

brokers,  and  others — assembled  in  front  of  the  Man- 
sion House,  cheering  wildly,  and  losing  all  control 
over  themselves  to  such  a  degree  that  they  threw  their 
hats  high  in  the  air.  For  the  remainder  of  that  day 
and  far  into  the  night  all  London  went  mad  with  joy. 

Magazine.  From  the  Arabic  Makhzan,  a  depository  for 
stores.  In  a  literary  sense  this  originally  expressed  a 
periodical  whose  contents  were  made  up  of  elegant 
extracts  from  the  best  authors. 

Magdalen  Hospital.  The  old  name  of  a  penitentiary  for 
fallen  women,  so  called  after  Mary  Magdalen.  The 
French  form  of  this  name  is  Madeleine. 

Magdalen  Smith.  The  famous  Dutch  portrait  painter, 
Gaspar  Smitz,  is  usually  known  by  this  name  on 
account  of  his  many  "  Magdalens,"  in  which  he  ex- 
celled. 
Magdeburg.  German  for  "town  on  the  plain." 
Magenta.  This  colour  was  so  called  because  first  produced 
after  the  battle  of  Magenta  in  1859. 

Magic  City  of  the  South.  Birmingham  in  the  state  of 
Alabama.  Since  its  foundation  by  the  Elyton  Land 
Company  in  187 1  it  has  bidden  fair  to  rival  Pittsburg 
as  the  Birmingham  of  America. 

Magnolia.  In  honour  of  the  eminent  French  botanist, 
Pierre  Magnol. 

Mahala.  The  Californian  term  for  an  Indian  squaw,  de- 
rived from  the  Spanish  muger  (pronounced  muher),  a 
woman. 

Mahatma.  A  Hindoo  term  for  a  Buddhist  gifted  with 
what  appear  to  be  supernatural  powers,  as  the  result  of 
the  very  highest  intellectual  development. 

Mahogany.  A  vulgar  term  very  frequently  heard  in  the 
Midland  counties  for  a  man's  wife.  This  arose  from 
the  fact  that  the  wood  of  the  Mahogany-tree  (West 
Indian  Ma/iogan,  but  botanically  Swietenia  Mahogani) 
was  for  many  years  at  first  used  exclusively  for  the 
manufacture   of  domestic   dining  -  tables ;    hence  a 


Mahrattas— Maid  of  Orleans      2 1 5 

man  would  say  :  "  I'll  discuss  it  with  my  wife  over  the 
Mahogany."  Eventually  the  phrase  was  corrupted 
into  "I'll  talk  to  the  Mahogany  about  it,"  and  so  the 
term  came  to  denote  the  man's  wife. 

Mahrattas.  The  Hindoo  term  for  "outcasts."  Although 
devout  worshippers  of  Buddha,  this  powerful  Hindoo 
family  does  not  recognise  that  fine  distinction  of 
caste  which  obtains  elsewhere. 

Maida  Vale.     After  the  victory  of  Maida,  4th  July  1806. 

Maiden.  An  ancient  instrument  of  capital  punishment 
made  in  the  form  of  a  woman,  the  front  of  which 
opened  like  a  door,  and,  the  victim  being  imprisoned, 
sharp  steel  spikes  pierced  his  body  on  every  side. 
This  name  was  also  given  to  an  early  species  of  guillo- 
tine in  Scotland.  To  be  executed  by  its  means  was 
to  "  Kiss  the  Maiden,"  because  she  clasped  him  in  a 
death  embrace. 

Maidenland.  A  Virginian  term  for  the  land  which  comes 
to  a  man  by  marriage  on  his  wife's  side,  and  which 
passes  from  him  at  her  decease. 

Maiden  Assize.  So  called  when  there  are  no  charges 
for  the  jury,  which  in  the  event  of  conviction  merit 
capital  punishment  or  the  death  sentence.  On  such 
an  occasion  the  sheriffs  present  a  pair  of  white  gloves 
to  the  judges  as  the  emblems  of  innocence. 

Maiden  Lane.  Anciently  skirting  the  garden  of  the  Con- 
vent. This  thoroughfare  had  at  its  western  corner  a 
statue  of  "  Our  Lady  "  let  into  the  wall. 

Maid  Marian.  So  far  from  having  any  connection  with 
Robin  Hood  and  his  merry  men  in  Sherwood  Forest, 
this  term  is  derived  from  the  "Morris  Dance,"  in 
which  five  men  and  a  boy  took  part.  On  account  of 
his  antics  and  the  ill-fitting  morione,  or  helmet,  that 
this  boy  wore,  he  came  to  be  styled  as  the  "Mad 
Morion,"  of  which  Maid  Marian  was  an  easy  corrup- 
tion. 

Maid  of  Orleans.     Joan  of  Arc,  who  led  her  countrymen 


2 1 6    Maid  of  Saragossa — Make  Tracks 

against  the  English,  and  effected  the  capture  of  the 
city  of  Orleans,  29th  April  1429. 

Maid  of  Saragossa.  Augustina  Zaragossa,  who  distin- 
guished herself  in  the  herioc  defence  of  the  city  of 
Saragossa  during  its  eight  months'  siege  by  the  French 
in  1808-9. 

Maidstone.  From  the  Anglo-Saxon  Medwcegeston,  the 
town  on  the  Medwcege,  or  Medway,  which  river  runs 
through  the  middle  of  the  county  of  Kent. 

Mail.  The  American  term  for  "  post " — i.e.  a  letter.  This 
word  is,  of  course,  derived  from  the  mail  bag  in  which 
letters  are  transmitted. 

Mail  Stage.     The  American  form  of  "  Stage-coach." 

Maine.  The  name  given  to  the  French  settlement  in  the 
New  World  after  the  city  so  called  in  the  Mother 
Country.  Maine,  from  the  Celtic  man^  expresses  a 
district  or  region. 

Majorca.  Expresses  the  Latin  for  Greater,  relative  to  the 
11  Balearic  Islands." 

Make  Bricks  without  Straw.  To  make  something  with- 
out the  needful  materials.  In  the  East  bricks  are 
made  out  of  straw  and  mud  dried  in  the  sun.  The 
expression  comes  from  the  burdens  laid  upon  the 
Israelites  in  Egypt  as  related  in  Exodus  v. :  "  Go 
therefore  now,  and  work ;  for  there  shall  no  straw  be 
given  you,  yet  shall  ye  deliver  the  tale  of  bricks." 

Make  Money  out  of  a  Shoe-string.  An  Americanism 
for  a  capacity  to  make  money  out  of  nothing — that  is, 
without  working  capital. 

Make  the  Raise.  An  Americanism  for  to  "  raise  the 
loan." 

Make  the  Sneak.  An  Americanism  for  to  sneak  or  run 
away. 

Make  Tracks.  Originally  a  Far  West  expression  when  a 
squatter  deserted  his  claim  and  set  out  to  explore  an 
unknown  region. 


Make  Trade  hum — Manitoba  217 

Make  Trade  hum.  An  Americanism  for  whipping  up 
business  by  advertising  or  extraordinary  energy. 

Malaga.  From  the  Phoenician  malaca,  salt.  The  wine  of 
the  same  name  is  imported  from  this  city  of  Spain. 

Malmsey.  Wine  from  Malvasia,  an  island  in  the  Mediter- 
ranean historically  famous  for  its  vineyards. 

Malta.      From  the  Phoenician  Melita,  "a  place  of  refuge." 

Mamelukes.  From  the  Arabic  mamluc,  a.  slave.  The 
original  standing  army  of  Egypt,  composed  of  boy 
slaves  purchased  by  the  Sultan  from  the  Tartar  Khan 
in  the  Caucasus  in  the  thirteenth  century. 

Mamma.  Latin  for  "  breast "  j  hence  all  animals  that 
are  suckled  by  the  mother  belong  to  the  class  of 
"  Mammals." 

Mammon.      From  the  Syriac  mamona,  "riches." 

Manchester.  Expresses  the  Anglo-Saxon  for  a  common 
on  the  site  of  a  Roman  camp.  The  Friesic  man  in 
this  sense  enters  into  many  place  names  also  on  the 
Continent. 

Manchester  Square.  After  the  Duke  of  Manchester,  the 
owner  of  the  estate. 

Manchuria.  The  territory  of  the  Manchus,  the  founders 
of  the  present  ruling  dynasty  of  China. 

Mandarin.  Although  this  title  is  borne  by  officers  of 
every  grade  in  China  the  word  is  really  Portuguese, 
mandar,  to  command.  It  was  applied  by  the  early 
settlers  of  Macao  to  the  Chinese  officials  of  that 
colony,  and  has  remained  a  European  designation  for 
a  Chinaman  of  rank  ever  since. 

Manhattan.  From  the  Indian  munnohatan^  "the  town  on 
the  island." 

Manicure.  The  American  mode  of  "  Manicurist,"  which, 
from  the  Latin  manus,  hand,  literally  means  one  who 
undertakes  the  care  of  the  finger-nails. 

Manitoba.  After  Manitou,  the  "Great  Spirit"  of  the 
Alonquin  Indians.  This  name  is  pronounced  Mani- 
Xobar,  not  ManiM>ar. 


218    Man  in  the  Street— Man-of- War 

Man  in  the  Street.  A  metaphorical  expression  for  the 
average  man,  with  no  more  than  a  superficial  knowledge 
of  matters  in  general.  Not  belonging  to  a  club,  he 
has  small  means  of  adding  to  his  own  store  of  know- 
ledge by  daily  communion  with  those  better  informed 
than  himself. 

Manlius  Torquatus.  The  Roman  Consul  Manlius  re- 
ceived his  surname  "Torquatus"  through  having 
wrested  the  golden  torque  or  collar  from  his  adversary 
on  the  field  of  war. 

Mannheim.  German  for  "  the  home  of  men."  Until  the 
Elector  Palatine  Frederick  IV.  built  a  castle  here,  and 
a  town  grew  up  around  it  in  the  seventeenth  century, 
this  was  a  village  of  refugees  from  religious  persecu- 
tion in  the  Netherlands. 

Man  of  Kent.      A  native  of  the  county  of  Kent  east  of 

the  Medway. 
Man  of  Ross.     The  name  given  by  Pope  to  John  Kyrle 

of  Ross,  Herefordshire.     See  "Kyrle  Society." 

Man  of  Straw.  One  who,  having  nothing  to  lose,  descends 
to  mean  practices  for  gain,  well  knowing  that  his 
victims  rarely  go  to  the  expense  of  entering  a  prosecu- 
tion against  him,  since  they  cannot  obtain  damages. 
This  term  was  derived  from  the  hangers-on  at  the 
Westminster  Law  Courts,  who  were  ready  to  swear 
anything  at  the  instruction  of  counsel  for  a  bribe. 
They  were  known  by  displaying  a  wisp  of  straw  in 
their  shoes.  If  another  witness  was  required  while  a 
case  was  being  heard,  counsel  generally  sent  out  to 
look  for  "a  pair  of  straw  shoes." 

Man-of-War.  This  term  is  a  popular  abbreviation  of 
man-of-war  ship — i.e.  the  floating  home  of  a  man-of- 
war's-man.  Our  national  prestige  has  from  time  im- 
memorial been  dependent  on  the  supremacy  of  the 
seas,  therefore  an  English  sailor,  more  than  a  soldier, 
was  regarded  by  our  ancestors  as  a  fighting  man.  Since 
the  introduction  of  ironclads,  however,  it  has  become 
the  custom  to  speak  of  a  floating  battery  as  a  war 
vessel  or  battleship,  and  a  sailor  as  a  bluejacket. 


Mansard  Roof— Marigold         219 

Mansard  Roof.  After  its  inventor,  Francois  Mansard, 
the  French  architect  of  the  seventeenth  century. 

Mansfield  Street.  From  the  town  mansion  of  the  Earls 
of  Mansfield,  which  stood  here. 

Mansion  House.  Expresses  the  "house  of  houses,"  the 
official  residence  of  the  Lord  Mayor  of  London,  the 
representative  in  the  city  of  the  King,  whose  flag 
proudly  waves  in  the  breeze  from  the  roof. 

Mantua.  A  lady's  cloak  or  mantle,  originally  introduced 
from  the  Italian  city  of  this  name. 

Maoris.  The  aborigines  of  New  Zealand.  In  the  native 
tongue  this  means  "  indigenous." 

Maraboo  Feathers.  Those  plucked  from  the  underside  of 
the  wings  of  the  stork  of  the  same  name.  The  stork 
being  held  sacred  by  the  Mohammedans,  as  it  was  by 
the  ancient  Egyptians,  its  name  has  the  same  meaning 
as  that  of  the  "  Marabuts." 

Marabuts.  The  priestly  order  of  the  Arabs  in  North 
Africa;  those  who  attend  the  mosques  and  call  the 
people  to  prayers.  Their  name  is  derived  from  the 
Arabic  Marabath,  sacred  or  devoted  to  God. 

Maraschino.  A  liqueur  distilled  from  delicate  and  finely 
flavoured  cherries,  called  Marazques,  cultivated  at 
Zara  in  Dalmatia. 

March.     In  honour  of  Mars,  the  Roman  god  of  war. 

Marconigram.  A  wireless  telegram,  so  called  after  Marconi, 
the  inventor  of  the  system. 

Margate.  From  the  Anglo-Saxon  Mare,  the  sea ;  expresses 
the  road  or  entrance  to  the  Thames  estuary  from  the 
sea.     See  "  Gate." 

Margaret  Street.  After  Lady  Margaret  Cavendish,  wife 
of  the  second  Duke  of  Portland,  landlord  of  the  estate. 

Marigold.  This,  golden  flower,  indigenous  to  Mexico,  was 
dedicated  by  the  Spaniards  to  the  Virgin.  What  are 
called  "  Marigold  Windows,"  having  these  flowers  re- 
presented on  them,  appear  in  Lady  Chapels. 


220     Marine  Store — Marquis  of  Granby 

Marine  Store  Dealer.  The  legal  description  of  what  is 
now  a  rag  and  bone  merchant  in  a  small  way,  because 
at  one  time  old  ships'  iron  and  cables  were  not  allowed 
to  be  disposed  of  in  any  other  manner  save  to  such  a 
registered  dealer. 

Market  Street.  The  site  of  an  ancient  market  on  which 
at  a  later  period  the  annual  May  Fair  was  held.  This 
district  is  now  one  of  the  most  fashionable  in  the  West 
End  of  London. 

Mark  Lane.  A  corruption  of  u  Mart  Lane,"  in  which  an 
ancient  annual  fair  or  mart  of  Flemish  merchants  was 
held. 

Mark  Twain.  The  literary  pseudonym  of  Samuel  Lang- 
home  Clemens,  reminiscent  of  his  early  life  as  a  pilot 
on  a  Mississippi  steamboat.  "  Mark  Twain "  in 
nautical  phraseology  means  "mark  two  fathoms  of 
water." 

Marlborough  House.  This,  the  residence  of  H.R.H.  the 
Prince  of  Wales,  was  built  by  Sir  Christopher  Wren 
for  John  Churchill,  Duke  of  Marlborough,  in  1709  at 
a  total  cost  of  a  million  of  money. 

Marlborough  Road.  This,  like  the  square  of  the  same 
name  off  the  Fulham  Road,  was  so  called  after  the 
"  Duke  of  Marlborough  "  at  one  end  of  it.  At  Peck- 
ham,  after  the  one-time  residence  of  John  Churchill, 
Duke  of  Marlborough,  before  he  removed  to  Pall  Mall. 

Maroons.  Revolted  Negroes  in  South  America  and  the 
West  Indies.  The  term  was  derived  from  the  Morony 
River,  between  Dutch  and  French  Guiana,  where  great 
numbers  of  these  fugitives  found  a  place  of  safety. 

Marquee.     Originally  the  tent  of  a  marchioness. 

Marquis.  From  the  Italian  and  French  Marchese,  pursuant 
to  the  root  mark,  a  boundary.  Anciently  expressive 
of  an  officer  who  had  the  guardianship  of  the  marches 
or  boundaries  of  a  duchy.  At  a  later  period  the 
owner  of  a  slice  of  land  bestowed  upon  him  out  of  a 
duchy.     Nowadays  the  title  next  below  that  of  duke. 

Marquis  of  Granby.     A  tavern  sign  in  honour  of  John 


Marry — Martel  221 

Manners,  the  British  general  during  the  Seven  Years' 
War  in  Germany,  a  soldier  beloved  by  his  men  and 
esteemed  by  his  country. 

Marry.  A  perverted  form  of  the  oath  "By  Mary"  in 
days  when  people  were  wont  to  swear  by  the  Virgin. 

Marsala.  A  light  wine  exported  from  Marsala  in  Sicily. 
This  name  was  bestowed  upon  the  town  by  the  Arabs, 
Marsa  Alia,  "Port  of  God,"  on  account  of  its  de- 
lightful situation. 

Marseillaise.  This  was  the  composition  of  Rouget  de 
Lisle,  an  artillery  officer  stationed  with  the  French 
garrison  at  Strasburg.  First  sung  at  a  banquet  given 
by  the  mayor  of  that  city,  it  became  immensely 
popular;  and  when  in  1792  the  Marseilles  volunteers 
were  summoned  to  Paris,  they  sang  it  as  they  ap- 
proached and  entered  the  capital.  The  words  and 
music  at  once  struck  the  popular  ear,  so  that  "  La 
Marseillaise  "  became  the  national  war  song. 

Marshal.  From  the  Teutonic  mare,  horse,  and  schalk, 
servant.  This  term,  through  the  French  marechal,  orig- 
inally signified  the  groom  of  the  horse ;  now  it  means 
in  a  civil  sense  the  master  of  the  horse  and  head  of 
the  ceremonies  in  devising  pageants  and  processions. 
The  Duke  of  Norfolk,  as  Earl  Marshal  of  England, 
takes  precedence  over  all  other  noblemen. 

Marshal  Forward.  General  Blucher,  on  account  of  his 
eagerness  to  make  a  dash  in  the  campaign  which 
terminated  in  the  victory  of  Waterloo. 

Marshalsea.  The  old  Debtors'  Prison  in  Southwark,  so 
called  because  the  Court  of  the  Knight  Marshal,  for 
the  settlement  of  disputes  between  members  of  the 
Royal  Household,  was  held  within  its  walls.  This 
edifice  was  demolished  in  1842. 

Marsham  Street.  From  the  ground  landlord,  Charles 
Marsham,  Earl  of  Romney. 

Martel.  The  surname  of  Charles,  the  son  of  Pepin 
d'Heristal,  who  signalised  himself  in  battle  against 
the  Saracens  when,  according  to  the  chronicler,  "  he 


222     Martello  Tower — Mason  and  Dixon 

knocked  down  the  foe  and  crushed  them  between  his 
axe,  as  a  martel  or  hammer  crushes  what  it  strikes." 
This  exploit  occurred  during  the  attempted  Saracenic 
invasion  of  France  a.d.  732. 

Martello  Tower.  Originally  built  near  the  sea  as  a  watch- 
tower  for  protection  of  merchandise  against  pirates. 
The  term  arose  from  the  custom  of  the  sentry  striking 
a  bell  with  a  martel,  or  hammer,  as  often  as  he  discerned 
a  pirate  ship  out  at  sea. 

Martin.  The  common  wall-swallow,  corrupted  from  its 
Latin  name  Murten,  from  murus,  a  wall. 

Martinet.  From  the  name  of  a  strict  officer  under 
Louis  XIV.  of  France;  hence  the  phrase  "a  regular 
martinet." 

Martin's  Lane.     From  St  Martin's  Church  in  this  lane. 

Martlemas.  A  corruption  of  "Martinmas,"  or  Feast  of  St 
Martin,  4th  November,  the  usual  time  for  the  hiring  of 
servants  in  the  rural  districts  of  England. 

Maryland.  The  name  given  by  Lord  Baltimore  to  the 
colony  founded  by  him,  in  honour  of  Henrietta  Maria, 
queen  of  Charles  I. 

Maryland  End.  An  Americanism  for  the  hock  of  the 
ham,  as  distinguished  from  the  other,  the  "Virginia 
End." 

Marylebone.  A  corruption  of  "St  Mary  of  the  Bourn  " — 
i.e.  the  parish  church  of  St  Mary  beside  the  bourn  or 
stream  which  descended  from  near  the  hermitage  at 
"Kilburn"  to  "Tyburn." 

Masaniello.  The  name  of  the  leader  of  the  Neapolitan 
insurrectionists  of  the  seventeenth  century  was  Tom- 
maso  Aniello,  of  which  Masaniello  is  a  corruption. 

Masher.  From  the  Romany  or  gipsy  Masha,  "to  fascinate 
the  eye."  Whether  the  overdressed  fop,  so  designated 
in  our  day,  really  possessed  this  enviable  quality  is 
open  to  question. 

Mason  and  Dixon's  Line.  An  American  expression 
for  the  old-time  boundary  between  the  slave  and  the 


Massage — May  223 

free  states.  This  line  was  defended  between  Pennsyl- 
vania and  Maryland  and  Virginia  by  two  English 
surveyors,  Charles  Mason  and  Jeremiah  Dixon,  in 
I763-7- 
Massage.  A  Frenchised  Hindoo  word  for  rubbing.  A  male 
and  female  practitioner  of  this  new  curative  mode  of 
friction  treatment  are  respectively  styled  a  masseur 
and  masseuse. 

Mattan  Diamond.  This,  the  largest  in  the  world,  weighing 
367  carats,  is  the  property  of  the  Rajah  of  Mattan  in 
India. 

Maudlin.  A  word  expressive  of  sentimentality  or  an 
inclination  to  shed  tears,  more  especially  when  in  a 
state  of  intoxication.  Old  painters  always  represented 
Mary  Magdalen  with  swollen  eyes,  the  result  of 
penitential  tears;  hence  a  corruption  of  "Magdalen." 

Maund.  The  Saxon  for  an  alms-basket  employed  in  the 
distribution  of  bread  to  the  poor  by  the  Lady  of  the 
Manor. 

Maundy  Thursday.  So  called  from  Maunde,  the  French 
form  of  Mandatum,  the  first  word  in  the  New  Com- 
mandment or  mandate  given  by  our  Lord  to  His 
disciples  after  washing  their  feet  at  the  Last  Supper. 
The  essence  of  this  mandate  was  to  love  one  another ; 
hence  the  washing  of  feet  of  poor  persons  and  dis- 
tribution of  doles  by  the  reigning  sovereign  on  this  day. 
See  "Maund." 

Mauritius.  A  Dutch  colony  named  in  honour  of  Maurice, 
Prince  of  Orange. 

Mausoleum.  After  the  magnificient  sepulchral  monument 
erected  by  his  widow,  Artemisia,  to  Mausolus,  King  of 
Caria,  at  Halicarnassus,  353  B.C. 

May.  The  budding  or  shooting  of  plants  in  this  month 
caused  the  Romans  to  give  it  the  name  of  Magius, 
afterwards  shortened  into  Mains,  from  the  Sanskrit 
mah,  to  grow.  Eventually  this  month  was  held  sacred 
to  Maia,  the  mother  of  Mercury,  to  whom  sacrifices 
were  offered  on  the  first  day. 


224    Maydew  Cheeries — Melodrama 

Maydew  Cheeries.  A  corruption  of  Medoc  cherries,  from 
the  district  in  France  where  they  are  cultivated. 

Mayfair.  On  the  site  of  this  fashionable  district  Edward  III. 
established  a  six  days'  fair  in  the  month  of  May  for 
the  benefit  of  the  leper  hospital  of  St  James  the  Less, 
where  St  James's  Palace  now  stands. 

May  Meetings.  The  annual  meetings  of  the  many  religious, 
missionary,  and  philanthropic  bodies  of  the  United 
Kingdom  are  held  in  London,  generally  at  Exeter  Hall, 
during  the  month  of  May. 

Mazarin  Bible.  A  very  rare  edition  of  the  Scriptures,  being 
one  of  the  earliest  printed  by  Gutenberg  with  separate 
metal  types,  between  1450  and  1455.  It  received  this 
name  from  the  fact  that  a  copy  was  discovered  in  the 
library  of  Cardinal  Mazarin. 

Mecklenburg  Square.  One  of  the  many  names  about 
London  which,  when  new  streets  were  built  upon, 
complimented  the  Hanoverian  Succession. 

Medina.  Expresses  the  Arabic  for  "  City."  Its  full  name 
is  Medinat  al  JVa&i,  "  City  of  the  Prophet." 

Mediterranean  Sea.  The  sea  "  in  the  middle  of  the  earth  " 
is  that  between  the  two  great  continents,  Europe  and 
Africa. 

Medway.     See  "  Maidstone." 

Meerschaum.  Expresses  the  German  for  "sea  foam,"  the 
fine  white  clay  out  of  which  pipes  are  made  being  at 
one  time  thought  to  be  the  petrified  scum  or  foam  of 
the  sea. 

Meistersingers.  Literal  German  for  "Master  Singers"; 
master  craftsmen  who  in  the  Middle  Ages  revived 
the  national  minstrelsy,  which  had  been  allowed  to 
fall  into  decay. 

Melbourne.  In  honour  of  Lord  Melbourne,  the  Prime 
Minister  in  1837,  when  this  Australian  colony  was 
founded. 

Melodrama.  Modern  drama,  distinguished  by  incidental 
music  as  an  accompaniment  to  the  action. 


Memorial  Day — Merrimac         225 

Memorial  Day.  The  United  States  mode  of  expressing 
a  great  commemorative  occasion,  such  as  Independence 
or  Decoration  Day. 

Memorial  Hall.  This  building,  in  Farringdon  Road, 
commemorates  the  issue  of  the  famous  "Act  of  Uni- 
formity," whereby  2000  ministers  of  the  Church  of 
England  were  deprived  of  their  livings  on  24th  August 
1662.  The  site  was  formerly  occupied  by  the  old 
Fleet  Prison. 

Memory-Corner  Thompson.  The  name  borne  by  John 
Thompson  of  the  parish  of  St  Giles's-in-the-Fields. 
Seated  in  a  corner  of  a  coffee-house,  he  was  wont  for 
the  amusement  of  regular  habitues  to  display  his 
astounding  powers  of  memory  in  regard  to  the  topo- 
graphy of  London. 

Memory  Woodfall.  The  sobriquet  of  William  Woodfall, 
brother  to  the  reputed  author  of  the  celebrated 
"Letters  of  Junius."  His  mnemonical  powers  differed 
from  that  of  "  Memory-Corner  Thompson  "  in  that, 
after  listening  to  a  debate,  Parliamentary  or  otherwise, 
overnight,  he  could  repeat  it  word  for  word  the  next 
morning. 

Mentor.  A  "guide,  philosopher,  and  friend,"  so  called 
after   Mentor,  the  faithful   friend   and   counsellor   of 

Ulysses. 

Mercenaries.  From  the  Latin  mercer,  wages,  reward. 
These  hired  soldiers  of  antiquity  figured  largely  in 
the  Punic  Wars. 

Mercer.  The  old  name  for  a  dealer  in  silks  and  woollen 
fabrics,  so  called  from  the  Latin  mercis,  wares, 
merchandise.  Nowadays  such  a  one  styles  himself 
a  "Draper." 

Merino.  A  fabric  of  wool  from  the  sheep  of  the  same 
name,  which  expresses  the  Spanish  for  an  inspector  of 
sheep  walks. 

Merioneth.      After  Merion,  an  early  British  saint. 

Merrimac.      Indian  for  "swift  water." 


226  Merry  Andrew — Mexico 

Merry  Andrew.  A  buffoon  or  clown,  said  to  have  been  so 
called  after  Andrew  Borde,  a  noted  physician  of  the 
time  of  Henry  VIII.,  whose  witticisms  were  on  a  par 
with  his  medical  skill.  His  sayings  were  widely 
repeated,  and  since  it  happened  that  Andrew  was  then 
the  most  common  name  for  a  man-servant,  facetious 
fellows  came  to  be  dubbed  Merry  Andrews. 

Merry  Monarch.  Charles  II.,  who  from  the  time  of  coming 
to  the  throne  never  knew  care,  but  made  his  life  one 
round  of  pleasure. 

Mesopotamia.  The  ancient  description  of  the  region 
situate  between  the  Tigris  and  the  Euphrates.  The 
name  is  Greek,  from  mesost  middle,  and  potamos^ 
river. 

Messe  Rouge.  Expresses  the  French  for  "Red  Mass." 
At  the  resumption  of  their  duties  at  the  Law  Courts 
after  the  Long  Vacation  all  the  Catholic  judges  and 
barristers  attend  a  Mass  of  the  Holy  Ghost  to  invoke 
the  Spirit  for  the  gift  of  wisdom.  Like  the  masses  of 
the  Feast  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  the  vestment  worn  by 
the  officiating  priest  is  red,  in  allusion  to  the  tongues 
of  fire  that  descended  upon  the  Apostles  on  Whit 
Sunday. 

Methodists.  This  name  was  first  given  by  a  fellow- 
student  of  Christ  Church,  Oxford,  to  the  Brothers 
Wesley  and  a  few  friends  who  were  in  the  habit  of 
meeting  on  certain  evenings  for  religious  conversation. 
They  also  visited  the  inmates  of  Oxford  Jail  at  stated 
times,  always  faithfully  kept  their  engagements,  and 
acted  up  to  their  Christian  principles  in  a  strictly 
methodical  manner.  The  new  sect  was  afterwards 
styled  by  John  Wesley  "The  First  Methodist 
Society." 

Metz.  This  city  was  styled  by  the  Romans  Mettis^  from 
the  Medio  matrici,  the  people  of  the  country,  whom 
they  conquered. 

Mexico.  Expresses  the  seat  or  place  of  Mexitli,  the 
Aztec  god  of  war. 


Michaelmas  Day— Milking  the  Street  227 

Michaelmas  Day.  The  feast  of  St  Michael,  prince  of  the 
heavenly  host,  and  patron  saint  of  the  Catholic  Church. 
This  is  properly  described  as  "St  Michael  and  all 
Angels  "  (29th  September). 

Michaelmas  Goose.  Stubble  geese  being  at  their  best 
about  this  time,  the  rural  tenantry  always  brought  their 
landlords  a  goose  with  their  Michaelmas  rent.  Since 
the  latter  usually  received  more  geese  than  they  could 
consume  themselves,  they  passed  them  over  to  friends, 
and  thus  the  goose  became  a  standing  Michaelmas 
dish. 

Michigan.      Indian  for  "a  weir  for  fish." 

Middlesex.  Expresses  the  territory  of  the  Middle  Saxons, 
situate  between  that  of  the  East  and  West  Saxons 
under  the  Heptarchy. 

Middling.  North  of  England,  and  also  American,  for 
medium  or  passable  in  the  sense  of  feeling  well. 

Mignonette.  Expresses  the  diminutive  of  Mignon,  the 
French  for  "  darling." 

Mildmay  Park.  The  estate  of  the  Mildmays,  whose 
ancestor,  Sir  Henry  Mildmay,  came,  by  marriage,  into 
possession  of  Mildmay  House  and  its  park  in  the 
time  of  Charles  I. 

Mile  End  Gate.  From  a  toll  gate  which  at  this  point  of 
the  highroad  marked  the  eastern  limits  of  London 
town  and  the  parish  of  Whitechapel,  distant  one  mile 
from  the  city  boundary  at  Aldgate. 

Miles  Lane.  After  Miles  Coverdale,  a  famous  preacher 
at  the  Weigh-House  Chapel  hard  by  in  former  days. 

Milford  Lane.  From  an  old  mill  that  stood  here  in  the 
fields.  The  lane  itself  led  to  a  ford  across  the  river 
at  low  water. 

Milking  the  Street.  An  Americanism  for  the  operations 
of  stockbrokers  who,  by  alternately  raising  and  depres- 
sing shares,  capture  all  the  floating  money  in  the 
market.  The  allusion  is,  of  course,  to  Wall  Street,  the 
financial  centre  of  New  York  city. 


228    Milk  St— Mind  your  Fs  and  Qs 

Milk  Street.  The  ancient  milk  and  butter  market  in 
connection  with  Cheapside. 

Millbank.  From  an  old  mill  that  stood  on  the  Thames 
bank,  on  the  site  of  which  the  Grosvenors  built  a 
mansion,  subsequently  displaced  for  the  gloomy  prison 
of  the  same  name. 

Millerites.  An  American  religious  sect,  whose  founder, 
William  Miller,  prophesied  the  millennium  or  first 
judgment  of  the  world  by  Christ  and  His  angels  to 
take  place  on  23rd  February  1843.  Many  of  his 
followers  went  mad  through  excitement  as  this  date 
approached.  Subsequent  days  assigned  for  the  ful- 
filment of  the  prophesy  proved  alike  misleading. 

Milliner.  A  corruption  of  Milaner,  after  the  city  of  Milan, 
which  at  one  time  set  the  fashion  throughout  Europe 
for  elegance  and  taste  not  only  in  matters  of  dress, 
but  of  art.  A  milliner  is  one  who  deals  in  hats, 
feathers,  and  ribbons.     See  "Mercer." 

Mill  Street.  From  a  mill  that  stood  hereabouts  when  the 
scene  was  one  of  peaceful  rusticity. 

Milton  Street.  After  the  author  of  "  Paradise  Lost,"  who 
resided  here  for  a  time,  and  was  buried  in  the  parish 
church  of  St  Giles's,  Cripplegate.  This  was  the 
famous  Grub  Street  of  tradition. 

Milwaukee.     Indian  for  "rich  land." 

Mincing  Lane.  A  corruption  of  "  Mynchen  Lane,"  denot- 
ing the  property  of  the  Minchery,  the  Saxon  term  for 
a  nunnery  of  St  Helen's  in  Bishopsgate  Street. 

Minden  Boys.  The  20th  Foot,  so  called  from  the  con- 
spicuous bravery  displayed  by  them  at  the  battle  of 
Minden. 

Mind  your  P's  and  Q's.  This  had  reference  originally 
to  the  pints  and  quarts  chalked  up  against  a  rustic  at 
the  village  alehouse.  When  his  score  threatened  to 
become  too  disproportionate  to  his  prospective  wages, 
the  alehouse-keeper  generally  administered  a  timely 
warning  in  these  set  terms.     It  was  a  polite  way  of 


Miniature — Mint  229 

saying  he  would  very  soon  decline  to  serve  him  with 
more  until  the  next  settling  day. 

Miniature.  So  called  because  this  early  species  of  hand- 
painted  portraiture  originated  in  the  head  of  the 
Madonna  or  of  a  saint  that  formed  the  initial  letter  of 
the  beautifully  illuminated  rubrics  produced  by  the 
monks  styled  the  "  Miniatori,"  because  their  paints 
were  made  out  of  minium,  or  red  lead. 

Minnesingers.  Expresses  the  Old  German  for  "love 
singers,"  the  troubadours  of  the  Fatherland  in  the 
Middle  Ages. 

Minnesota.      Indian  for  "  smoky  water." 

Minorca.     Expresses  the  lesser  of  the  "  Balearic  Islands." 

Minories.  This  thoroughfare  was  laid  out  across  the 
lands  belonging  to  the  Minoresses  or  Nuns  of  St 
Clare  after  their  priory  had  been  demolished  at  the 
Reformation.  The  Order  of  the  Minoresses  corre- 
sponded to  the  Friars  Minor  of  the  Franciscans 
founded  by  St  Francis  de  Paula. 

Minster.  The  distinction  between  a  minster  and  a  cathe- 
dral lies  in  this :  the  former  is  the  church  in  connec- 
tion with  a  monastery,  whereas  the  latter  contains  the 
kathedra,  or  chair,  of  a  bishop. 

Minstrel  Boy.  A  favourite  page  whose  duty  it  was  to 
attend  a  knight  in  peace  and  war.  On  his  return  from 
"feats  of  arms"  he  recited  the  doughty  deeds  of  his 
master  to  the  accompaniment  of  a  lute,  harp,  or  lyre 
in  the  banqueting-hall.  In  times  of  peace  his  theme 
was  the  bravery  of  the  knight  in  the  lists  at  tournaments 
or  his  prowess  in  defence  of  fair  maidens. 

Minstrel  of  the  Border.  The  name  bestowed  upon 
William  Wordsworth  by  Sir  Walter  Scott. 

Mint.  On  the  spot  where  Manlius  Capitolinus  had  built 
himself  a  sumptuous  residence  the  Romans  set  up  a 
temple  to  Juno  Moneta,  or  "The  Monitress,"  since 
Manlius  had  been  apprised  of  the  Gallic  invasion 
through  the  cackling  of  the   sacred   geese.      Subse- 


230    Mint  Street— Moet  and  Chandon 

quently  this  temple  of  Moneta  was  converted  into  an 
establishment  for  the  coinage  of  money.  Both  mint 
and  money  therefore  come  from  Moneta. 

Mint  Street.  From  the  old  mint  established  at  Suffolk 
House  by  Henry  VIII.  when  that  property  was  se- 
questered to  the  Crown. 

Minuet.  So  called  from  the  Latin  minutus,  small,  on 
account  of  the  short,  graceful  steps  which  distinguish 
this  dance. 

Miserere.  The  name  given  to  a  mediaeval  choir  stall  of 
which  the  seat  could  be  turned  up  so  as  to  form  a 
ledge  for  the  support  of  the  aged  monks  while  kneel- 
ing. Its  name,  miserere^  "  Have  mercy,"  was  singularly 
appropriate. 

Misluck.     An  Americanism  for  misfortune  or  ill  luck. 

Misses'  Tailors.     An  Americanism  for  "  Ladies'  Tailors." 

Mississippi.     Indian  for  "  great  and  long  river." 

Missouri.     Indian  for  M  muddy  water." 

Mitre.  An  inn  sign  most  generally  to  be  met  with  in  a 
cathedral  city,  having  reference,  of  course,  to  the 
mitre  worn  by  a  bishop. 

Mitre  Court.  So  called  after  an  ancient  Fleet  Street 
tavern  hard  by. 

Mitre  Square.    From  an  old  inn,  "The  Mitre." 

Mob.     From  the  Latin  mobile  viilgus,  "the  vulgar  crowd." 

Mobtown.  The  name  given  to  the  city  of  Baltimore  on 
account  of  the  lawlessness  of  a  certain  section  of  its 
inhabitants. 

Mocha.  Coffee  brought  from  the  district  of  the  same 
name  in  Arabia. 

Mocking  Bird.  A  species  of  thrush  that  mocks  or  imitates 
the  notes  produced  by  other  birds. 

Moet  and  Chandon.  A  favourite  brand  of  champagne 
from  the  vineyards  of  the  French  firm  trading  under 
the  name  of  "  Moet  et  Chandon." 


Molasses — Monday  231 

Molasses.  The  American  term  for  syrup  or  treacle, 
derived  from  the  French  me/asse,  the  root  of  which  is 
the  Latin  me  His,  honey. 

Money.     See  "Mint." 

Mohair.  From  the  Arabic  Mukhayyar,  "goatskin  hair," 
through  the  French  moire,  the  fine  silken  hair  of  the 
Angora  goat. 

Mohawks.  Night  marauders  who  in  the  days  of  the  "Old 
Charlies"  terrorised  peaceable  London  citizens,  self- 
styled  after  the  fierce  Indian  tribe  of  the  same  name. 
"Mohawk"  means  "man-eater"  or  "live-eater,"  this 
term  being  applied  to  the  Iroquois  by  the  eastern 
Indians  of  North  America. 

Moire  Antique.  The  French  description  of  watered  silk 
worked  in  the  style  of  the  olden  times.  See 
"Mohair." 

Moldavia.     The  country  traversed  by  the  River  Moldau. 

Moleskin.  A  superior  fabric  of  fustian  or  strong  cotton 
distinguished  for  a  smoothness  like  the  hair  of  the 
mole. 

Molly  Maguires.  An  Irish  Secret  Society  in  the  United 
States,  more  especially  Pennsylvania,  composed  of 
young  men  dressed  in  women's  clothes,  and  with 
blackened  faces,  who  did  not  hesitate  to  murder  in 
connection  with  the  agrarian  outrages  that  they 
committed.  The  execution  of  ten  of  the  ringleaders 
in  June  1877  at  length  put  an  end  to  their  reign 
of  terror. 

Monastery.  From  the  Greek  monos,  alone.  This  term 
expresses  an  establishment  of  monks,  secluded  from 
one  another  in  cells  except  when  at  prayers  or  at 
meals;  recluses  who  never  go  into  the  outer  world 
at  all.  A  Friary,  on  the  contrary,  is  a  convent  whose 
inmates  live  in  community  and  go  forth  to  preach 
among  the  people. 

Monday.  A  term  derived  from  Scandinavian  mythology 
when,  after  the  first  day  of  the  week  given  up  to  sun- 


232    Money  makes  Money — Mont  Blanc 

worship,  the  second  was  set  apart  for  the  worship  of 
the  moon. 

Money  makes  Money.  This  is  a  truism  which  it  were 
vain  to  deny.  Without  capital  a  man  cannot  possibly 
set  up  in  business  for  himself,  even  as  a  costermonger. 
The  command  of  money  makes  its  possessor  doubly 
rich. 

Monger.  This  word  enters  into  various  designations  of 
the  trading  community,  such  as  Fishmonger,  Coster- 
monger, being  derived  from  the  Anglo-Saxon  mongere^ 
"one  who  trades." 

Monk.  From  the  Greek  monackos,  "  one  who  lives  alone." 
See  "  Monastery." 

Monkey.  From  the  Italian  monicchio,  the  diminutive  of 
monnay  an  ape.  This  word  is  often  used  as  a  verb 
— e.g.  "Don't  monkey  about  on  there,"  meaning 
"  Don't  play  about  or  be  up  to  monkeyish  pranks." 

Monkey  Board.  The  platform  at  the  back  of  an  omnibus, 
so  called  on  account  of  the  capers  usually  indulged  in 
by  the  conductor.  On  a  vehicle  of  the  old-fashioned 
kind  this  platform  was  so  small  that  he  had  to  jump  off 
it  in  order  to  allow  a  passenger  to  enter  or  alight. 

Monk  Lewis.  The  sobriquet  of  Matthew  Gregory  Lewis 
after  he  had  published  his  celebrated  novel,  "The 
Monk,"  in  1795. 

Monmouth.  The  mouth  of  the  Mon,  the  ancient  descrip- 
tion of  which  was  Mynwy,  "the  border  river." 

Montague  Place.  This,  like  the  street  close  by,  received 
its  name  from  Montague  House,  the  town  mansion  of 
the  Dukes  of  Montague,  in  which  the  treasures  of  the 
British  Museum  were  at  first  deposited  pending  the 
erection  of  the  present  edifice. 

Montague  Square.  Like  the  street  of  the  same  name,  this 
was  designated  in  compliment  to  Mrs  Montague  of 
the  "Blue  Stocking  Club,"  who  after  the  death  of  her 
husband  resided  in  Portman  Square. 

Mont  Blanc.  French  for  "white  mountain,"  because  it 
is  eternally  snow-clad. 


Montenegro— Moravians         233 

Montenegro.     Literally  "  black  mountain." 

Montepulciano.  A  famous  Italian  wine  produced  at  the 
ancient  city  of  the  same  name. 

Montgomery.  After  Roger  de  Montgomery,  Earl  of 
Shrewsbury,  who  obtained  forcible  possession  of  the 
castle  erected  on  the  height  by  the  Lord  of  the  Marshes 
in  the  time  of  William  the  Conqueror. 

Montreal.  So  called  from  the  admiring  exclamation  of 
Jacques  Coutier,  when  in  1534  he  viewed  the  sur- 
rounding country  from  its  summit.  The  name  is 
French  for  "Royal  Mount." 

Montserrat.  Expresses  the  Latin  for  a  mountain  serrated 
or  jagged  like  a  saw. 

Monumental  City.  Baltimore,  so  called  on  account  of  its 
one  hundred  and  four  churches,  the  obelisk,  etc., 
which  it  contains. 

Moonshiners.  The  name  given  in  the  western  states  of 
America  to  illicit  whisky  distillers. 

Moonshine  Whisky.  American  whisky  distilled  under 
cover  of  night  by  "Moonshiners." 

Moorfields.     See  "  Moorgate  Street." 

Moorgate  Street.  From  the  postern  gate  in  the  Roman 
Wall  leading  to  the  moor  beyond  the  fen  lands  or 
marshes  of  Finsbury  known  as  Moorfields. 

Moors.  From  the  Latin  mauri^  and  Spanish  moros, 
"black."  Elsewhere  denominated  " Saracens,"  these 
Arab  conquerors  of  the  peninsula  were  called  by  the 
Spaniards  "Moriscoes." 

Mop  Fair.  The  name  given  to  a  fair  held  a  few  days 
after  the  periodical  Statute  Fair  for  the  hiring  of  farm 
servants.  The  dregs  of  the  Statute  Fair  are  then 
mopped  or  swept  up. 

Moravia.  From  the  Morava,  which  name  expresses  a 
marsh  or  boundary  river. 

Moravians.  The  followers  of  John  Huss,  driven  out  of 
Bohemia  and  Moravia  by  religious  persecutions  early 
in  the  eighteenth  century. 


234         Morgan  Horse — Moscow 

Morgan  Horse.  A  favourite  breed  of  American  sporting 
horse  descended  from  the  animal  owned  by  Justin 
Morgan,  a  schoolmaster  of  Randolph,  Vermont,  nearly 
a  hundred  years  ago. 

Morgue.  So  far  from  denoting  a  mortuary,  this  term 
really  means  the  inner  wicket  of  a  prison,  where  the 
identification  marks  of  new  arrivals  are  taken  before 
they  have  their  cells  and  tasks  assigned  to  them.  It 
is  therefore  not  incorrectly  applied  to  the  place  of 
public  examination  and  identification  of  the  unknown 
dead. 

Morisonians.  A  religious  sect  which  separated  from  the 
Scottish  Presbyterians  in  1841,  under  the  leadership  of 
James  Morison. 

Mormons.  A  sect  whose  founder,  Joseph  Smith,  claimed 
to  have  received  a  new  revelation  in  "The  Book  of 
Mormon,"  written  on  gold  plates  by  the  angel  Mormon, 
the  last  of  the  Hebrew  line  of  prophets,  in  1827. 

Mornington  Crescent.  After  the  Earl  of  Mornington, 
Governor-General  of  India,  the  brother  of  the  Duke 
of  Wellington. 

Morocco.     The  territory  of  the  Moriscoes  or  "  Moors." 

Morris  Dance.  An  ancient  military  dance  of  the  Moris- 
coes or  Moors  of  Spain  introduced  to  England  by  John 
of  Gaunt  after  his  return  from  that  country,  temp. 
Edward  III.  Hence  the  companions  of  the  "Jack  in 
the  Green  "  at  the  May  Day  festival  always  blackened 
their  faces,  and  disported  themselves  in  extravagant 
costumes,  imitative  of  the  flowing  robes  of  the  original 
dancers.     See  "  Maid  Marian." 

Mortimer  Street.  After  Edward  Harley,  Earl  of  Wigmore 
and  Mortimer,  landlord  of  the  estate  in  17 17. 

Mosaics.  So  called  because  such  inlaid  work  of  stones 
was  originally  employed  in  the  pavements  of  the 
temples  of  the  Muses.  The  word  is  French  mosaique, 
derived  from  the  same  Greek  root  as  Museum. 

Moscow.  From  the  River  Moskwa,  on  which  the  city  was 
built. 


Moselle— Mother  Red  Cap        235 

Moselle.  Wines  produced  at  the  vineyards  on  the  banks 
of  the  French  river  of  the  same  name. 

Moslem.  From  the  Arabic  Muslim,  "true  believer," 
through  Salama,  "to  submit."  This  term  expresses 
the  plural  of  "  Mussulman  "  among  the  Persians.  By 
the  Turks  "true  believers"  are  styled  "Moslemin." 
There  is  no  such  word  as  "  Mussulmen  "  or  "  Mussul- 
mans." 

Mosquito.     From  the  Spanish  mosca,  a  fly. 

Mosquito  Coast.  A  territory  in  Central  America  which, 
on  account  of  its  climate  and  the  swampy  nature  of 
the  land,  is  infested  by  mosquitoes. 

Mothering  Sunday.  The  Sunday  in  Mid-Lent  when  the 
members  of  a  family  in  domestic  service  visit  their 
parents  and  enjoy  "Mothering  Cakes"  for  tea. 
These  cakes  had  their  origin  in  offerings  made  to  the 
"  Mother  Church  "  on  the  afternoon  on  this  day. 

Mother  Black  Cap.  A  public-house  sign  in  Camden 
Town  set  up  in  opposition  to  the  " Mother  Red  Cap" 
over  the  way.  There  never  was  a  noted  character  of 
this  name. 

Mother  of  Believers.  The  name  bestowed  by  Moham- 
medans upon  Ayesha,  the  favourite  wife  of  "The 
Prophet,"  styled  "The  Father  of  Believers."  Moham- 
med himself  declared  that  Ayesha  was  the  only  member 
of  his  family  who  cherished  the  slightest  faith  in  his 
mission.  His  preference  for  his  second  wife,  therefore, 
can  be  readily  understood. 

Mother  of  Presidents.     Virginia,  on  account  of  the  many 

Presidents  which  this  state  has  given  to  the  American 

Republic. 
Mother   of  South-Western  Statesmen.     Tennessee,  from 

the  seventeen  eminent  Congressmen  which  this  state 

has  given  to  the  Union. 

Mother  of  States.     Virginia,  the  pioneer  British  colony  in 

the  New  World. 
Mother  Red  Cap.     An  omnibus  stage  in  Camden  Town, 


236  Mother  Shipton — Muff 

the  sign  of  which  perpetuates  the  memory  of  a  notorious 
London  poisoner  during  the  Commonwealth. 

Mother  Shipton.  A  noted  hostelry  at  Haverstock  Hill, 
built  when  the  prophecies  of  this  Welsh  sorceress  were 
the  common  talk  of  the  day.  Some  of  her  less  baneful 
predictions  were  actually  verified ;  notably  those  as  to 
ships  ploughing  the  ocean  without  sails  and  vehicles 
careering  along  the  road  without  horses.  Is  it 
possible  that  she  had  the  motor  car  in  her  mind  ? 

Moulin  Rouge.     Expresses  the  French  for  "  Red  Mill." 

Mound  City.  St  Louis,  on  account  of  the  numerous 
artificial  mounds  occupying  its  site  at  the  time  when 
the  city  was  built. 

Mountain.  The  extremists  of  the  Democratic  party  in 
France  during  the  Reign  of  Terror,  so  called  because 
they  occupied  the  elevated  benches  in  the  House  of 
Convention. 

Mountain  Dew.  An  Irishman's  term  for  whisky,  because 
it  was  often  secretly  distilled  among  the  mountains  in 
order  to  escape  excise  duty ;  hence  the  expression : 
11  A  drop  o'  the  cratur." 

Mount  Street.  On  a  natural  mound  the  Parliamentary 
forces  here  erected  a  fort  or  bastion  when  the  Royalists 
were  expected  to  make  an  attack  upon  London  from 
the  west. 

Mrs  Grundy.  A  term  expressive  of  the  prudishness  of  the 
English  character.  It  arose  out  of  the  line:  "What 
will  Mrs  Grundy  say  ?  "  in  Thomas  Morton's  drama, 
"Speed  the  Plough,"  produced  in  1798. 

Mudlarks.  The  nickname  of  the  Royal  Engineers,  whose 
function  it  is  to  throw  up  entrenchments. 

Muff.  This  term  was  at  first  applied  to  an  effeminate 
dandy  who  at  one  time,  like  the  ladies,  carried  a  muff 
to  keep  his  hands  warm  in  winter.  This  incapacitated 
him  from  defending  himself  with  his  sword  against 
an  unexpected  attack  at  the  hands  of  a  street  bully,  and 
hence,  as  now,  a  muff  was  easily  taken  advantage  of, 
or  likely  to  become  a  prey  to  the  sharp-witted. 


Muff  Dogs— Munster  Road        237 

Muff  Dogs.  Small  dogs  carried  by  ladies  in  their  muffs 
during  the  seventeenth  century.  A  "  muff  dog " 
figures  in  an  engraving  by  Hollar. 

Mug.  Slang  for  a  man's  face.  This  arose  out  of  the  rude 
portraiture  of  Lord  Shaftesbury  or  some  other  political 
celebrity  which  from  the  time  of  the  Restoration  to  the 
middle  of  the  eighteenth  century  adorned  the  yellow 
chinaware  beer  mugs  at  an  alehouse,  or  Mug-House 
as  it  was  called.  These  Mug-Houses  were  the  first 
political  clubs ;  out  of  them  sprang  the  popular  "  Free 
and  Easies  "  of  modern  times,  and  more  recently  the 
Music  Halls. 

Muggletonians.  A  religious  sect  headed  by  Ludovic 
Muggleton,  a  tailor,  who  proclaimed  himself  a  prophet, 
in  1651. 

Mugwump.  An  Indian  word  for  "  wise  chief."  The  Mug- 
wumps of  North  America  are  the  Democrats,  whose 
political  aims  are  above  cliques  or  parties  ;  therefore 
they  refuse  to  be  influenced  by  a  "  Caucus." 

Mulatto.  From  the  Spanish  mulato,  a  mixed  breed,  through 
mulo,  a  mule,  the  offspring  of  a  white  and  a  Negro. 

Mumm.  A  strong  German  beer  named  after  Christian 
Mumme,  who  first  brewed  it. 

Mummer.  Slang  for  an  actor.  This  old  English  term, 
derived  from  the  German  mumme,  a  mask,  was  applied 
to  the  performers  in  a  Christmas  masque  or  buffoonery. 

Mummock.  An  Americanism  for  handle,  disarrange,  or 
play  with — e.g.  "  Don't  mummock  things  about."  The 
word  is  really  obsolete  provincial  English  for  "  maul." 

Munich.  From  the  German  monchen,  monks.  On  the  spot 
where  the  city  stands  some  monks  built  a  warehouse  for 
the  salt  which  they  obtained  in  the  neighbourhood. 
In  the  twelfth  century  Henry  the  Lion  made  this 
Villa  Minichen,  as  it  was  then  called,  into  a  mint,  and 
a  town  grew  up  around  it. 

Munster  Road.  From  Munster  House,  the  residence  of 
Melesina  Schulenberg,  created  Duchess  of  Munster 
by  George  II. 


238      Munster  Square — Mutoscope 

Minister  Square.  In  honour  of  the  eldest  son  of  William 
IV.,  created  Earl  of  Munster. 

Murphies.     Potatoes,   the   chief  articles   of  consumption 

among  the  Irish  peasantry.     This  term  is  current  also 

in  America. 
Muscadel.      French  and  Italian  win^;,  so  called  from  the 

Italian  muscado,  musk,  nutmeg.     Variants  of  this  name 

are  Muscatel  and  Muscadine. 

Muscatels.  Raisins  exported  from  Muscat  in  the  Gulf  of 
Oman,  Arabia. 

Muscovy  Duck.  A  corruption  of  "  Musk  duck,"  a  species 
larger  than  the  common  duck. 

Mush.     An  Americanism  for  an  umbrella. 

Musical  Comedy  Artiste.  The  new  pet  name  for  a 
chorus  girl. 

Musical  Small-Coal  Man.  The  lifelong  sobriquet  of 
Thomas  Britton  of  Aylesbury  Street,  Clerkenwell, 
where  was  his  coal  shed.  He  inaugurated  Thursday 
evening  concerts,  that  attracted  fashionable  enthusiasts 
from  the  West  End.  This  worthy,  though  he  earned 
his  livelihood  by  crying  small  coals  in  the  street,  was  a 
scholar,  a  musician,  and  a  companion  of  gentlemen. 

Muslin.  Called  by  the  French  Mousse/ine,  from  Mosul  in 
Asiatic  Turkey,  whence  during  the  Middle  Ages  this 
fabric  was  sent  to  supply  all  the  markets  of  Europe. 

Muss.  An  Americanism  for  "mess,"  used  in  the  sense  of 
a  confusion  or  disorder.  It  is  used  also  to  imply  a 
squabble  or  a  reprimand — e.g.  "  I  got  into  a  dreadful 
muss  this  morning." 

Mussulman.     See  "Moslem." 

Muswell  Hill.  Properly  "Mustwell  Hill,"  from  the  Latin 
mustus,  fresh.  On  this  hill  there  was  discovered  an 
ancient  well  of  clear,  fresh  water,  that  belonged  to  the 
prior  of  St  John's  Clerkenwell  and  Highbury,  who  had 
a  dairy  farm  hereabouts. 

Mutes.     See  "Undertaker." 

Mutoscope.     A  modern  peep  show,  in  which  the  figures 


Myddleton  Square — Nanny  Goats     239 

move;    living   pictures,    so    called    from    the    Latin 
mutatis,  to  change,  and  the  Greek  skopein,  to  view. 

Myddleton  Square.  After  Sir  Hugh  Myddleton,  who  at 
his  own  cost  embarked  upon  the  ruinous  enterprise  of 
constructing  the  New  River  from  Chadwell  in  Hertford- 
shire, nearly  forty  miles  distant,  to  London.  One  of 
the  reservoirs  occupies  the  enclosed  portion  of  this 
square. 

My  Eye.  An  exclamation  signifying  "You  dazzle  me," 
"You  make  me  blink  with  astonishment."  Its 
American  equivalent  is  briefly  "  My  !  " 

My  Lady  Nicotine.  The  pretty  name  now  generally 
applied  to  tobacco  since  the  republication  in  book 
form  of  J.  M.  Barrie's  essays  on  smoking  which 
originally  appeared  in  the  St  James's  Gazette.  See 
"  Nicotine." 

Mythology.  From  the  Greek  muthos,  a  fable,  and  logos,  a 
discourse.  This  was  essentially  a  religion  built  upon 
fable. 

My  Uncle.  The  popular  designation  of  a  pawnbroker. 
See  "  Uncle." 


N 

Nailed.  Slang  for  "caught,"  in  allusion  to  being  pinned 
down  by  the  captors.  Also  a  thing  seized  and  made 
off  with ;  a  punning  reference  to  "  driving  "  a  nail. 

Naked  Possessor.  The  Far  West  description  of  the 
possessor  of  a  piece  of  land  for  a  long  period  without 
a  legal  title  to  it.  He  is  the  naked  possessor  because 
his  title  is  not  clothed  in  a  set  form  of  words  recog- 
nised by  the  Courts  of  Law. 

Nankeen.  Cotton  stuff  originally  made  at  Nankin,  in 
China. 

Nankin.     Expresses  the  Chinese  for  "Southern  Capital." 

Nanny  Goats.  The  nickname  of  the  23rd  Foot  on 
account  of  their  regimental  pet  goat. 


240  Nantes — Neckerchief 

Nantes.  A  native  brandy  exported  from  Nantes  in 
Brittany.     The  name  is  the  Celtic  for  "valley." 

Nap.     A  game  of  cards,  originally  named  after  Napoleon  I. 

Naples.  Called  by  the  Greeks  Neapolis,  "New  City." 
The  ancient  name  is  better  expressed  when  speaking 
of  the  inhabitants  as  "Neapolitans." 

Napoleon.  A  gold  coin  of  France  issued  during  the 
Consulate  of  Napoleon  Bonaparte.  This  superseded 
the  "Louis  d'Or." 

Narcissus.  This  flower  is  fabled  to  have  sprung  up  on  the 
spot  where  the  beautiful  Grecian  youth  so  called  died 
of  love-sickness. 

Naso.  The  nickname  given  to  Ovid  on  account  of  the 
length  of  his  nose;  hence  "Ovidius  Naso." 

Nassau  Street.  After  the  royal  House  of  Nassau,  to  which 
William  III.,  as  Prince  of  Orange,  belonged. 

Natal.  So  called  because  the  Portuguese  navigator  Vasco 
di  Gama  landed  upon  its  shores  on  Christmas  Day,  or 
the  Feast  of  the  Nativity,  1498. 

Nation.     An  Americanism  for  "damnation." 

National  Democrats.  Those  in  the  United  States  whose 
principles  are  national  as  opposed  to  sect  or  party. 

Navvy.  Originally  the  name  of  a  labourer  employed  in 
the  construction  of  canals  for  inland  navigation.  An 
alehouse  set  up  beside  one  of  the  earliest  canals  bore 
the  sign  of  the  "Navigation  Inn,"  and  those  who  fre- 
quented it  were  called  Navigators.  This  term  soon 
became  shortened  into  Navvies. 

Nazarenes.  Semi-converted  Jews  who,  while  nominally 
Christians,  believed  "Jesus  of  Nazareth"  to  be  the 
long-promised  Messiah,  and  still  conformed  to  the  rites 
and  ceremonies  prescribed  by  the  Jewish  law. 

Nebraska.  Indian  for  "  water  valley."  This  fertile  region 
is  traversed  by  several  shallow  rivers. 

Neckerchief.  A  kerchief  for  the  neck.  See  "  Handker- 
chief." 


Neckwear — New  Brunswick      241 

Neckwear.     An   American  term  for  neckties,  scarves,  or 

mufflers. 
Needle  in  a  Bottle  of  Hay.     See  "  Bottle  of  Hay." 

Needle's  Eye.  The  postern  gate  in  the  wall  of  an  Eastern 
city,  so  called  because  with  some  difficulty  a  camel  is 
able  to  thread  its  way  through  it. 

Negus.  Hot  spiced  wine,  originally  concocted  by  Colonel 
Negus  in  the  reign  of  Queen  Anne. 

Nemesis.     From  the  goddess  of  vengeance,  who  bore  this 

name. 
Nepaul    Paper.     India   paper    made   in    the    district    of 

Nepaul,  Northern  India.     The  original  India  paper 

came  from  the  Far  East. 

Nest  Egg.  The  nucleus  of  a  banking  account,  so  called 
because  if  a  china  egg  be  placed  in  a  hen's  nest  it  is 
an  inducement  for  her  to  lay  eggs  of  her  own  there. 
When  a  person  has  a  trifle  put  by  he  is  anxious  to 
increase  it. 

Nestorians.  A  sect  of  heretics  of  the  fifth  century  under 
Nestorius,  Patriarch  of  Constantinople. 

Netherlands.  Literally  the  Low  Countries,  now  comprised 
in  the  kingdom  of  Holland. 

Netop.  Indian  for  "my  friend."  In  saluting  a  friendly 
Indian  a  white  in  North  America  always  makes  use 
of  this  word. 

Nevada.  Spanish  for  "snowy,"  in  allusion  to  the  snow- 
clad  mountain  ridges  of  this  state. 

New  Amsterdam.  The  name  given  by  the  Dutch  settlers 
to  their  colony  at  the  mouth  of  the  Hudson  River, 
now  "  New  York." 

New  Bond  Street.     See  "  Bond  Street." 

New  Bridge  Street.  Leads  to  Westminster  Bridge, 
opened  in  1862.  This  name  was  chosen  in  contra- 
distinction to  Bridge  Street,  Blackfriars. 

New  Brunswick.  On  assuming  its  independence  of  Nova 
Scotia  in  1784  this  British  colony  was  named  after  the 
House  of  Brunswick. 

Q 


242    New  Burlington  St. — Newgate  St. 

New  Burlington  Street.     See  "  Burlington  Street." 

Newcastle-under-Lyme.  The  name  of  the  river  on  which 
the  town  stands  is  the  Lyne,  not  the  Lyme.  To  take 
the  place  of  an  ancient  castle  at  Chesterton-under- 
Lyne  a  new  castle  was  built  in  this  neighbourhood, 
but  of  such  a  stronghold  no  vestige  now  remains. 

Newcastle-upon-Tyne.  Originally  Moncaster  or  Monk- 
chester,  so  called  from  a  colony  of  monks  on  the  site 
of  a  Roman  camp.  Robert,  Duke  of  Normandy,  the 
son  of  William  the  Conqueror,  built  a  castle  here  for 
the  defence  of  the  town  against  the  incursions  of  the 
Scots.  This  castle  was  afterwards  rebuilt  by  William 
II. ;  whereupon  the  town  assumed  the  title  of  New- 
castle. 

New  Cavendish  Street.     See  "  Cavendish  Square." 

New  Compton  Street.     See  "Compton  Street." 

New  Christians.  Portuguese  Jews  of  the  fifteenth  cen- 
tury who,  having  embraced  Christianity  under  com- 
pulsion, secretly  conformed  to  the  Mosaic  rites  and 
ceremonies. 

New  Cross.  The  district  which  grew  up  around  an  old 
coaching-house,  "  The  Golden  Cross,"  afterwards  re- 
built, and  renamed  "The  New  Cross." 

New  England.  The  collective  name  given  to  the  six 
eastern  states  of  the  American  Union — Maine,  New 
Hampshire,  Vermont,  Massachusetts,  Rhode  Island, 
and  Connecticut — because  the  people  are  descended 
from  the  Puritans  of  England  and  Scotland,  and 
therefore  may  be  regarded  as  the  only  true  "  Yankees." 

Newfoundland.  The  name  bestowed  by  Sebastian  Cabot 
upon  all  the  new  land  that  he  discovered,  but  now  con- 
fined to  this  British  possession. 

Newfoundland  Dog.  A  native  breed  of  dog  from  New- 
foundland. 

Newgate  Street.  From  the  newest  of  the  city  gates,  first 
alluded  to  in  history  in  1207.  The  gateway  having 
for  centuries  been  used  for  the  confinement  of  debtors, 


New  Hampshire — New  Spain     243 

it  gave  its  name  to  the  prison  erected  on  its  south  side. 
The  gloomy  edifice  which  has  been  demolished  within 
the  last  few  years  dated  from  1782,  after  the  burning 
of  its  predecessor  by  the  Gordon  rioters  in  1780. 

New  Hampshire.  This  state  having  been  granted  to 
Captain  John  Mason,  he  in  1629  named  it  after  his 
native  county  in  England. 

New  Holland.  The  name  given  to  what  is  now  Australia 
by  its  Dutch  settlers  in  1606  after  their  Mother 
Country. 

Newington.     Expresses  the  new  settlement  in  the  meadow. 
Newington  Butts.     The  site  of  the  archery  butts  in  South 

London  corresponding  to  those  of  Moorfields  in  the 

north. 

Newington  Causeway.  This  was  the  first  road  or  causeway 
across  the  swampy  fields  of  South  London  beyond  the 
"Borough." 

New  Jersey.  In  honour  of  Sir  George  Cartaret,  the 
gallant  defender  of  Jersey  Island  against  the  Parlia- 
mentary forces  in  1664. 

Newman  Street.     After  the  builder  on  the  site. 

New  Orleans.  The  name  given  to  the  French  settlement 
in  the  New  World  after  the  city  in  the  Mother  Country. 

New  Pye  Street.     See  "  New  Way." 

New  Scotland  Yard.  The  new  headquarters  of  the 
Metropolitan  Police,  occupying  a  site  which  has  not 
the  slightest  connection  with  its  name,  and  devoid 
of  all  historic  interest  further  than  that  its  foundations 
were  laid  for  a  Metropolitan  Opera  House,  the  building 
of  which  went  no  further.  With  the  transference  of 
the  Police  Department  from  "  Scotland  Yard  "  the  old 
name  was  retained. 

New  Southgate.  The  modern  residential  district  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  entrance  to  the  enclosed  hunting 
ground  extending  northward  to  Enfield,  anciently 
known  as  Enfield  Chase. 

New  Spain.     The  name  given  by  Cortes  to  "  Mexico." 


244  News-stand — Nicotine 

News-stand.     An  Americanism  for  a  railway  bookstall. 

New  Way.  A  modern  extension  of  Old  and  New  Pye 
Streets,  named  after  Sir  Robert  Pye,  who  had  his  resi- 
dence on  its  site. 

New  Woman.  A  term  which  came  into  vogue  during  the 
early  days  of  the  modern  bicycling  craze.  The  New 
Woman  disported  herself  abroad  in  knickerbockers, 
and  generally  made  herself  ridiculous  in  the  eyes  of 
all  sensible  men.  Latterly  she  has  returned  to  the 
obscurity  whence  she  sprang. 

New  York.  Originally  New  Amsterdam.  When  taken 
from  the  Dutch  in  1664  it  received  the  name  it  now 
bears  in  compliment  to  the  Duke  of  York,  afterwards 
James  II. 

New  Zealand.  Named  by  the  Dutch  after  their  native 
Zeeland,  or  "Sea-land,"  of  the  Low  Countries. 

Niagara.  From  the  Indian  On-aw-garah>  "  the  thunder  of 
waters." 

Nicaragua.  So  called  by  Gil  Gonzales  de  Avila  in  152 1, 
after  a  Haytian  chief  called  Nicaro,  who  gave  him  a 
friendly  reception  on  the  shores  of  the  lake,  which  also 
bears  this  name. 

Nicholas  Lane.  After  the  wealthy  banker,  Sir  Nicholas 
Throgmorton,  who  also  gave  his  name  to  Throgmorton 
Street. 

Nickel.  An  American  five-cent  piece,  so  called  because  it 
is  coined  out  of  nickel  silver. 

Nick  of  the  Woods.  The  first  word  in  this  American 
designation  is  a  corruption  of  "neck,"  denoting  a 
settlement  or  habitation  in  the  wooded  regions  of  the 
south-western  states. 

Nicotiana.  The  tobacco-producing  regions  of  the  United 
States.     See  "  Nicotine." 

Nicotine.  After  Jean  Nicot,  who  introduced  tobacco, 
which  he  had  purchased  at  Lisbon,  into  France  in 
1560. 


Nigger — Nine  Tailors  make  a  Man    245 

Nigger.  A  corruption  of  Negro,  which  term  is  derived 
from  the  Latin  niger,  "  black." 

Nightcap.  Since  everyone  in  the  days  of  our  grand- 
fathers wore  a  nightcap,  and  fancied  he  could  not 
go  to  sleep  without  one,  so  the  modern  substitute  is 
a  glass  of  spirits  just  before  retiring,  with  a  view  to 
making  him  feel  drowsy ;  hence  such  a  drink  is 
called  a  "  nightcap." 

Nightingale.     Literally  a  bird  that  sings  in  the  night. 

Nihilist.  Originally  a  member  of  a  Russian  society  whose 
members  recognised  no  law  save  their  own  happiness. 
They  sought  to  annihilate  all  ideas  of  God  and 
government,  as  also  of  the  rights  of  property.  These 
ultra-Socialists  sprang  into  existence  in  1848. 

Nimrod.  Charles  James  Apperley,  the  sporting  con- 
tributor to  The  Quarterly  Review,  and  author  of  "The 
Chase,  The  Turf,  and  The  Road,"  adopted  this 
pseudonym  after  Nimrod,  the  son  of  Cush,  who  is 
mentioned  in  Genesis  x.  9  as  the  "mighty  hunter 
before  the  Lord." 

Nincompoop.  A  dull-witted  person,  so  called  from  the 
Latin  phrase  non  compos  mentis,  "of  unsound  mind." 

Nine  Days'  Wonder.  Puppies  and  kittens  remaining 
blind  for  nine  days  after  birth,  they  are  during  this 
period  a  subject  of  much  wonder  to  the  young  members 
of  the  household.  A  sensational  event  or  a  piece  of 
public  scandal  arouses  uncommon  interest  for  a  few 
days,  and  then  it  gradually  subsides. 

Nine  Elms.  From  nine  fine  elm-trees  on  this  portion 
of  the  south  bank  of  the  Thames. 

Nine  Tailors  make  a  Man.  The  second  word  in  this 
expression  is  a  corruption  of  Tellers.  A  "  Teller " 
was  in  olden  times  a  stroke  of  the  "passing  bell"  of 
the  parish  church.  Three  tellers  gave  warning  of  the 
death  of  a  child,  six  of  a  woman,  and  nine  of  a  man. 
As  the  parishioners  counted  the  strokes  they  would 
say  :  "  Nine  tellers  make  a  man." 


246         Ninny — No  Hat  Brigade 

Ninny.  Short  for  "Nincompoop."  In  America  this  term 
is  generally  thought  to  be  derived  from  "  Pickaninny." 

Niphon.     The  native  name  of  "Japan." 

Nipped  in  the  Bud.  While  a  flower  is  in  the  bud  it  may 
be  destroyed  by  a  mere  nip  of  the  fingers.  Afterwards 
its  leaves  would  have  to  be  plucked  separately.  To 
curb  mischief  or  a  bad  habit  at  the  very  commence- 
ment is  therefore  the  easier  plan. 

Nipper.  Originally  in  thieves'  slang  a  boy  trained  to 
pick  purses  and  pockets,  and  nip  off  unobserved; 
hence  the  expression  "  A  Young  Nipper." 

Nitrate  King.  The  sobriquet  of  the  late  Colonel  J.  T. 
North,  who  amassed  a  fortune  by  the  nitrate  industry 
in  South  America. 

Nob.  Short  for  "  noble  "  or  "  nobleman."  From  University 
slang  the  term  has  come  to  imply  among  the  vulgar 
anyone  of  aristocratic  pretensions. 

Noctes  Ambrosianse.  A  characteristic  feature  of  Black- 
wood's  Magazine  in  its  early  days.  This,  "  The  Am- 
brosial Nights,"  was  contributed  as  a  regular  series  by 
Professor  Wilson,  being  for  the  most  part  the  actual 
conversations  of  the  author,  John  Gibson  Lockhart, 
and  Mr  Blackwood  at  a  small  Edinburgh  tavern  kept 
by  one  Ambrose.  Although  Hogg,  the  Ettrick 
Shepherd,  also  figured  in  those  dialogues,  he  was  not 
present  at  the  meetings. 

Nocturne.  A  quiet,  dreamy  species  of  musical  composition, 
suggestive,  as  its  name  denotes,  of  peaceful  night. 

Noddy.  A  kind  of  jaunting  car  peculiar  to  Dublin,  so 
called  because  its  jolting  motion  makes  its  riders  nod 
their  heads. 

No  Flies  on  me.  An  Americanism  expressive  of  in- 
dividual energy.  The  meaning  is :  "I  am  so  active 
that  no  flies  can  ever  settle  on  me." 

No  Hat  Brigade.  Modern  faddists  who  walk  abroad  bare- 
headed and  shelter  themselves  against  the  elements 
under  an  umbrella. 


Nonconformists — North  Britain    247 

Nonconformists*  Those  ministers  of  the  Church  of 
England  who  refused  to  subscribe  or  conform  to  the 
"Act  of  Conformity,"  and  thereby  lost  their  livings. 
The  term  is  now  generally  applied  to  all  Dissenting 
congregations. 

No  Quarter.  When  the  battle  cry  of  "No  Quarter," 
consequent  on  an  order,  goes  forth,  no  lives  are  spared 
by  the  victors.  To  give  quarter  means  to  spare  the 
vanquished.  This  had  its  origin  in  ancient  European 
warfare,  when,  by  way  of  earning  prize-money,  a  soldier 
refrained  from  dealing  the  death  blow  to  a  fallen  foe 
on  condition  of  receiving  a  quarter  of  the  latter's  pay. 

Norfolk.  The  northern  of  the  two  districts  or  counties  on 
the  east  coast  settled  by  the  Angles,  the  north  folk 
and  south  folk  respectively. 

Norfolk  Howards.  An  excess  of  refinement  has  caused 
this  term  to  be  substituted  for  bugs.  This  originated 
in  the  action  of  Joshua  Bugg  of  the  Swan  Tavern, 
Norwich,  who  by  deed  poll,  as  advertised  in  The  Times 
26th  June  1862,  changed  his  name  to  Norfolk 
Howard.  In  America  all  beetles  are  commonly 
styled  bugs. 

Norfolk  Street.  From  the  town  house  and  grounds  of 
the  Howards,  Dukes  of  Norfolk  and  Earls  of  Arundel 
and  Surrey. 

Norland  Square.  Built  on  the  site  of  Norland  House,  the 
residence  of  one  of  the  Drummonds,  bankers  of 
Charing  Cross,  temp.  William  IV. 

Normandy.  The  country  peopled  by  the  Northmen  or 
Danes. 

Northampton.  Anciently  described  as  "Northavontown," 
having  been  built  on  the  north  of  the  River  Avon, 
now  called  the  Nen. 

North  Audley  Street.     See  M  Audley  Street." 

North  Britain.  Scotland.  In  conjunction  with  England 
and  Wales  it  becomes  Great  Britain. 


248  North  Pole— Nosey 

North  Pole.  A  tavern  sign  in  Wardour  Street  up  at  the 
time  when  Captain  Parry's  Arctic  Expedition  was  the 
common  topic  of  interest. 

North  Star  State.  Minnesota,  so  called  on  account  of  its 
northern  situation  in  the  Union  and  the  motto  on  its 
arms:  "L'Etoile  du  Nord." 

Northumberland.  The  north-east  portion  of  that  vast 
tract  of  land  described  as  "  Northumbria,"  because 
situated  north  of  the  River  Humber  under  the 
Heptarchy. 

Northumberland  Alley.  This  name  in  Fenchurch  Street 
is  reminiscent  of  the  original  town  house  of  the  Dukes 
of  Northumberland  before  they  took  up  their  residence 
at  Charing  Cross  in  1607. 

Northumberland  Avenue.  From  Northumberland  House, 
the  town  mansion  of  the  Dukes  of  Northumberland, 
demolished  in  1874  to  make  way  for  this  fine  broad 
thoroughfare. 

Norton  Folgate.  A  corruption  of  "Northern  Falgate"; 
expressive  of  the  fine  barred  gate  leading  from  Bishops- 
gate  without  the  city  limits  into  the  open  fields. 

Norway.  Called  in  the  native  tongue  Nordrike^  "the 
north  kingdom."  This  country  was  long  thought  to  be 
wholly  surrounded  by  water,  on  which  account  it  re- 
ceived the  name  of  Nordee^  "  north  island."  This  the 
Saxons  modified  in  JVbrea,  and  later  Norway. 

Norwich.  So  called  from  the  castle  erected  by  the  East 
Anglian  kings  asa"  North  wic,"  or  northern  fortified 
village,  relative  to  Caistor,  to  resist  the  invasion  of  the 
Danes. 

Norwood.  This  was  formerly  the  northern  portion  of  the 
vast  wooded  district  situated  between  London  and 
Croydon. 

None  of  my  Funeral.  An  American  mode  of  saying 
11  Nothing  to  do  with  me,"  or  "  It's  no  affair  of  mine." 
Being  an  Americanism,  the  expression  is  devoid  of 
etymology. 

Nosey.     The  nickname  borne  by  Cervetto,  the  violoncellist 


Nothing  succeeds— Not  worth  a  Rap    249 

of  Drury  Lane  Theatre,  and  John  Wilson,  the  painter, 
both  of  whom  had  exceptionally  long  noses.  The 
Duke  of  Wellington  was  also  popularly  referred  to 
under  this  name  by  his  soldiers  on  account  of  his 
Roman  nose. 

Nothing  succeeds  like  Success.  When  a  man  is  success- 
ful the  world  bows  before  him.  Each  fresh  enterprise 
is  crowned  with  success,  because  there  is  an  abiding 
public  faith  in  the  man  who  has  made  money  or  hit 
the  popular  taste.  His  intrinsic  merits  may  be  no 
greater  than  those  of  the  poor  devil  who  has  syste- 
matically failed ;  yet  what  he  lacks  himself  he  readily 
finds  in  his  subordinates,  whom  he  can  afford  to  pay, 
while  the  credit  is  all  his  own. 

Notions.  An  Americanism  for  small  wares  or  trifles  in 
regard  to  dress. 

Not  much.     An  Americanism  for  "of  no  consequence." 

Not  quite  the  Cheese.  A  saying  which  originated  with 
those  who  insisted  on  being  served  with  prime  Stilton 
or  double  Glo'ster. 

Nottingham.  Called  by  the  Anglo-Saxons  Snottengaham, 
"a  place  of  caves."  The  name  is  partly  Celtic,  and 
little  doubt  exists  that  the  Britons  made  their  habita- 
tions in  the  caverns  with  which  this  county  abounds. 

Nottingham  Place.  After  the  county  estates  of  the  Duke 
of  Portland,  the  great  ground  landlord.  A  goodly 
portion  of  Sherwood  Forest  is  included  in  this  ducal 
possession. 

Notting  Hill.  Properly  "  Knolton  Barn  Hill,"  the  ancient 
description  of  a  manor  of  the  De  Veres,  which  in  the 
time  of  Henry  VIII.  was  held  by  Robert  Fenroper,  an 
alderman  of  the  city  of  London. 

Not  worth  a  Dam.     See  "  Don't  care  a  Dam." 

Not  worth  a  Rap.  A  rap  was  an  Irish  copper  coin 
issued  early  in  the  eighteenth  century  to  supply  a  long- 
felt  need  for  very  small  money.  Nominally  worth  a 
halfpenny,  its  metal  was  so  thin  and   base  that   it 


250    Not  worth  a  Song — Nutcrack  Night 

never  passed  for  more  than  a  farthing.    Its  infinitesimal 
value  consequently  gave  rise  to  this  expression. 

Not  worth  a  Song.  A  song  is  worth  nothing  at  all  after 
its  popularity  has  waned.  The  good  old  songs  live  on 
account  of  their  intrinsic  merits,  but  they  were  not 
pushed  into  public  favour  by  adventitious  methods  at 
the  time  of  publication.  Those  of  our  day  are  ground 
out  of  street  pianos  and  sung  everywhere  for  a  brief 
season,  then  heard  no  more. 

Nova  Scotia.  This  name,  expressive  of  "  New  Scotland," 
was  bestowed  upon  the  island  by  Sir  William  Alexander, 
a  Scotsman,  to  whom  James  I.  granted  a  charter  of 
colonisation  in  162 1. 

Nova  Zembla.     From  the  Slavonic  Nowaja  Zemlja^  "new 

land." 
November.     From  novem,  nine,  the  ninth  month  of  the 

Roman   calendar   when   the    year  commenced  with 

March. 

Noyau.  Expresses  the  French  for  the  stone  or  nut  of  a 
fruit;  hence  the  name  given  to  a  cordial  flavoured 
with  the  kernel  of  the  bitter  almond  or  peach  stone. 

Nun.  From  the  Italian  nonna,  a  grandmother.  Those 
who  retired  into  convents  originally  were  aged  women. 
It  was  only  in  modern  times  that  seminaries  for  girls 
were  established  in  convents ;  this  opened  the  way  to 
maidens  becoming  deeply  imbued  with  religious  ideas 
and  secluding  themselves  from  the  world  by  taking  the 
veil. 

Nunhead.  From  a  tea  garden  and  holiday  resort  known 
to  Londoners  as  "  The  Nun's  Head "  ever  since  the 
days  of  James  I. 

Nutcrackers.  The  3rd  Foot,  so  called  because  they 
boasted  of  having  broken  the  heads  of  the  Polish 
Lancers  at  the  battle  of  Albuera. 

Nutcrack  Night.  Another  name  for  All  Hallows'  Eve, 
when  nuts  are  laid  on  the  fire  bars  to  crack,  as  a  relic 
of  an  ancient  kind  of  divination. 


Nutmeg  State— Octroi  251 

Nutmeg  State.     Connecticut,  whose  people  were  believed 
to  manufacture  wooden  nutmegs  for  exportation. 


Oak  Apple  Day.  Another  name  for  Royal  Oak  Day 
(29th  May),  when  people  formerly  wore  oak  leaves  or 
oak  apples  in  their  hats  to  commemorate  the  manner 
in  which  the  partisans  of  Charles  II.  welcomed  his 
return  to  England  on  his  birthday,  1651.  This  was,  of 
course,  in  allusion  to  his  concealment  in  an  oak-tree 
near  Boscobel  House,  Shropshire,  after  the  battle  of 
Worcester,  on  3rd  September  previous. 

Oakley  Square.  After  Oakley  House,  near  Bedford,  one 
of  the  country  seats  of  the  Duke  of  Bedford,  the 
ground  landlord. 

Oaks  Stakes.  So  called  from  a  Lodge  or  Club-House 
built  among  the  oaks  by  the  Hunters'  Club,  and 
afterwards  converted  into  an  inn,  known  as  "  Lambert's 
Oaks,"  after  the  name  of  its  landlord. 

Obiter  Scripta.  Latin  for  a  thing  written  in  passing,  a 
note  by  the  way. 

Observants.  The  name  borne  by  those  monastic  orders 
whose  members  adhere  to  the  strict  rule  laid  down  by 
their  pious  founders  in  contradistinction  to  others 
styled  "  Conventuals,"  who,  like  the  secular  clergy,  take 
upon  themselves  the  performance  of  parochial  duties. 

Obstropulous.  A  corruption  of  the  word  "  obstreperous," 
inclined  to  quarrelling. 

Ocean  Greyhound.  A  fast  Atlantic  steamer  belonging  to 
one  of  the  great  lines. 

Octavo.  A  sheet  of  printing  paper  which,  when  folded  and 
cut,  makes  eight  leaves  or  sixteen  pages. 

October.  The  eighth  month  of  the  Roman  calendar  when 
the  year  began  with  March. 

Octroi.     The   name  given   to   a   toll  or  tax  levied  upon 


252  Odder— Off  the  Hooks 

market  produce  passing  through  the  gates  of  a  town. 
It  comes  from  the  Latin  auctoritas^  authority. 

Odder.  Colloquial  for  one  who  obtains  a  livelihood  by 
doing  odd  jobs. 

Oddfellows.  This  friendly  society  originated  with  five 
Manchester  shoemakers  who  in  1812  were  accustomed 
to  meet  after  the  day's  work.  It  having  occurred  to 
one  of  them  how  his  family  would  fare  if,  through 
sickness,  he  should  be  unable  to  follow  his  occupation, 
and  thinking  it  would  be  wise  to  make  some  provision 
against  such  a  contingency,  he  proposed  that  each  of 
them  should  subscribe  a  few  pence  weekly  towards  a 
common  sick  fund.  The  idea  was  at  once  t^ken  up. 
They  called  themselves  Oddfellows  because  they  num- 
bered five.  Others  soon  joined  the  little  society,  and 
from  these  humble  beginnings  it  grew  into  a  powerful 
organisation. 

Odd  rot  it.  A  perversion  of  the  Crusaders'  curse :  "  God 
rot  them!"  meaning  the  Saracens,  the  enemies  of 
Christianity. 

Odds  Bodkins.  A  perversion  of  "  God's  Body,"  in 
allusion  to  the  Eucharist.  This  oath  was  not  con- 
sidered profane  during  the  Ages  of  Faith. 

Odds  Fish.  A  favourite  exclamation  of  Charles  II.  It 
was  a  corruption  of  "God's  Flesh,"  or  the  Body  of 
Christ. 

Odds  Splutter.  A  corruption  of  the  Dutch  oath  Gofs 
plut,  "  God's  Blood,"  introduced  into  England  during 
the  reign  of  William  III. 

Odd  Zounds.  A  corruption  of  "God's  Wounds."  See 
"Zounds." 

Off  Colour.     To  look  pale  and  sickly. 

Off  the  Hooks.  An  expression  meaning  "beyond  hope 
of  requisition  for  further  service,"  "  completely  done 
for,"  whether  on  the  score  of  chronic  ill  health,  lunacy, 
or  old  age.  This  originally  had  reference  to  the 
Maypole  stored  away  in  Shaft  Alley,  Leadenhall  Street, 
and  perhaps  other  Maypoles  elsewhere  of  post-Reforma- 


Ohio— Old  Catholics  253 

tion  days.  As  long  as  it  rested  "  on  the  hooks  "  there 
was  a  likelihood  of  its  being  once  more  called  into 
service.     See  "  St  Andrew  Undershaft." 

Ohio.     Indian  for  "  beautiful." 

O.K.  This  arose  out  of  an  Irishman's  endorsement  for 
goods  passed  by  him,  as  he  would  have  spelt  out  the 
words  "Orl  Korrect." 

Old  Bags.  The  nickname  of  Lord  Eldon,  because  he 
always  carried  about  with  him,  in  separate  brief  bags, 
the  cases  on  which  he  had  to  pass  judgment. 

Old  Bailey.  From  the  Latin  balUum,  a  rampart,  through 
the  French  bailie.  The  term  "Bailey"  expressed  the 
open  space  or  court  between  a  castle  and  the  em- 
battlements.  Seeing  that  Lud  Gate  stood  in  line  with 
this  street  at  its  southern  extremity,  there  must  have 
been  a  keep  or  fortification  behind  the  Roman  Wall 
where  the  Sessions  House  came  to  be  built.  The  name 
was  therefore  retained  after  the  wall  was  demolished. 

Old  Bold  Fifth.  The  5th  Fusiliers,  which  regiment  has 
distinguished  itself  for  valorous  deeds  in  many  cam- 
paigns. 

Old  Bond  Street.     See  "  Bond  Street." 

Old  Broad  Street.  With  the  exception  of  Cheapside, 
this  was  the  widest  thoroughfare  in  Old  London,  all 
the  others  being  similar  to  what  Old  Change  is  at  the 
present  day.  During  Elizabeth's  reign  Old  Broad 
Street  constituted  the  residence  of  the  wealthiest 
citizens. 

Old  Buffer.  The  colloquial  term  for  a  short,  thick-set 
elderly  man,  whose  big  paunch  suggests  a  railway 
buffer. 

Old  Bullion.     See  "  Bullion  State." 

Old  Burlington  Street.     See  "  Burlington  Street." 

Old   Carthusians.      Old  scholars  of  the  "  Charter  House." 

Old  Catholics.  The  followers  in  Germany  of  the  late 
Dr  Dollinger,  who  separated  from  the  Roman  Catholic 


254    Old  Cavendish  Street — Old  Hickory 

Communion  after  the  promulgation  of  the  dogma  of 
Papal  Infallibility  in  1870. 

Old  Cavendish  Street.     See  "  Cavendish  Square." 

Old  Change.  So  called  from  "The  King's  Exchange," 
where  the  bullion  was  anciently  stored  prior  to  being 
sent  to  the  shearers  or  clippers  at  the  neighbouring 
Mint.     See  "Sermon  Lane." 

Old  Charlies.     See  "  Charlies." 

Old  Christmas  Day.  Twelfth  Day,  because,  according  to 
the  old  style  calendar,  Christmas  Day  fell  on  what  is 
now  6th  January. 

Old  Compton  Street.     See  "Compton  Street." 

Old  Dominion.  Virginia,  on  account  of  its  documentary 
description,  "  the  Colony  and  Dominion  of  Virginia." 

Old  England.  This  term  was  first  applied  to  the  Mother 
Country  after  the  colonisation  of  New  England  in 
North  America. 

Old  Fogey.     A  term  derived  from  the  Danish  fjog,  a  stupid 

old  man,  one  in  his  dotage. 
Old   Fox.     The  sobriquet  of  Marshal   Soult  on  account 

of  his  strategic  cunning. 
Old   Grog.     The  nickname   of  Admiral  Edward  Vernon, 

who  always  wore  a  grogram  clock  in  foul  weather. 

Old  Harry.     A  corruption  of  "  Old  Hairy,"  as  applied  to 

the  Devil. 
Oldham.      Expresses  the  old  home  or  settlement. 

Old  Hat.  A  country  tavern  sign  which  must  have  been 
the  original  when  the  same  premises  was  devoted  to 
some  other  business,  in  days  characterised  by  the 
display  of  signs  by  tradesmen  generally. 

Old  Hickory.  "Hickory"  is  an  Americanism  used  ad- 
jectively  for  anyone  who  is  tough,  obstinate,  or  hard, 
after  the  tree  of  the  same  name.  General  Andrew 
Jackson  merited  the  nickname  of  "  Old  Hickory  "  from 
his  own  soldiers  on  account  of  his  tough,  unyielding 
disposition.     Its  origin  is  thus  explained  by  Parton, 


Old  Jewry — Old  Quebec  Street      255 

the  author  of  the  President's  "  Life"  :  "The  name  of 
'  Old  Hickory '  was  not  an  instantaneous  inspiration, 
but  a  growth.  First  of  all,  the  remark  was  made  by 
some  soldier,  who  was  struck  with  his  commander's 
pedestrian  powers,  that  the  General  was  tough.  Next 
it  was  observed  that  he  was  as  tough  as  hickory.  Then 
he  was  called  'Hickory.'  Lastly,  the  affectionate 
'Old'  was  prefixed,  and  the  General  thenceforth 
rejoiced  in  the  completed  nickname,  usually  the  first- 
won  honour  of  a  great  commander." 

Old  Jewry.  The  original  Jewish  quarter  of  the  city  of 
London.     See  "  Jewin  Street." 

Old  Kent  Road.  The  South  London  portion  of  the 
Roman  highway  to  Dover. 

Old  Lady  of  Threadneedle  Street.  The  popular  name  of 
the  Bank  of  England.  There  is  a  tradition  that  towards 
the  end  of  the  eighteenth  century  a  demented  old  lady 
wandered  up  and  down  Threadneedle  Street  day  by  day 
for  a  long  period  until  she  suddenly  disappeared.  It 
was  generally  assumed  that  this  old  lady  of  Threadneedle 
Street  must  have  been  waiting  for  someone  who  had 
passed  into  the  Bank,  and,  according  to  her  idea, 
never  came  out  again.  When,  therefore,  in  1797  the 
Bank  threatened  a  temporary  stoppage  of  payment,  and 
one-pound  notes  were  issued,  John  Gilray,  the  artist, 
published  a  caricature  entitled  "The  Old  Lady  of 
Threadneedle  Street  in  Danger."  Since  that  time  the 
Bank  has  been  colloquially  referred  to  by  this  title. 

Old  Line  State.  Maryland,  whose  famous  regiment,  the 
Old  Maryland  Line,  saved  the  prestige  of  the  army 
when  Lord  Cornwallis's  Grenadiers  broke  the 
American  lines  at  Loughland. 

Old  North  State.  North  Carolina,  from  its  relative 
position  to  South  Carolina. 

Old  Paulines.     Old  scholars  of  St  Paul's  School. 

Old  Pye  Street.     See  "  New  Way." 

Old  Quebec  Street.  Laid  out  and  built  upon  soon  after 
the  capture  of  Quebec  by  General  Wolfe  in  1759. 


256  Old  Rep— Oof 

Old  Rep.     Short  for  "  Old  Reprobate." 

Old  Rowley.  A  sobriquet  of  Charles  II.,  from  the  name 
of  his  favourite  race-horse. 

Old  Rye.     A  United  States  term  for  old  whisky  distilled 

from  rye. 
Old  Salt.     An  old  sailor  who  has  sniffed  the  brine  of  the 

ocean  from  his  youth. 

Old  Scotland  Yard.     See  "  Scotland  Yard." 

Old  Soldiers.  An  Americanism  for  cigar-ends,  because 
they  are  the  remnants  of  the  originals  that  have  done 
good  service. 

Old  Sport.     An  Americanism  for  a  broken-down  gambler. 

Old  Tom.  The  name  first  given  to  gin  by  Thomas 
Norris,  who,  after  having  long  been  employed  in  the 
distillery  of  Messrs  Hodges,  opened  a  gin  palace  in 
Covent  Garden,  and  perpetuated  the  affectionate  name 
of  "  Old  Tom  Chamberlain,"  his  former  master. 

Old  Toughs.  The  nickname  of  the  103rd  Foot,  merited 
during  the  Indian  Mutiny. 

Old  Woman.  In  stage  parlance  an  actress  who  plays  old 
women's  parts.  A  fine  distinction  is,  however,  drawn 
between  "old  women"  and  what  are  called  "Aristo- 
cratic Old  Women." 

On  the  Tapis.  Tapis  is  French  for  a  carpet;  expressive 
also  of  the  cloth  or  kind  of  tapestry  which  covered  the 
table  in  the  Council  Chamber  when  French  was  the 
language  spoken  at  the  English  Court. 

On  the  Tenterhooks.  To  have  one's  curiosity  fully 
aroused;  on  the  tiptop  of  expectation.  The  phrase 
has  been  derived  from  the  mode  of  tentering  or 
stretching  cloth  upon  hooks  after  it  is  woven. 

On  the  Tiptoe  of  Expectation.  A  phrase  derived  from 
the  crowds  awaiting  a  public  procession.  As  soon  as 
the  music  is  heard  everyone  stands  on  tiptoe,  and 
looks  in  the  direction  whence  the  sounds  proceed. 

Oof.      A   slang   term   for   "  money " ;    derived  from    the 


Olive  Branches — Orange  Peel       257 

legendary  "  Oof  Bird,"  which  from  the  Latin,  ovum,  an 
egg,  traces  its  origin  to  the  goose  with  the  golden  eggs. 

Olive  Branches.  A  man's  children  are  so  designated  from 
the  Biblical  simile  in  Psalm  cxxviii.  3  :  "  Thy  wife  shall 
be  as  a  fruitful  vine  by  the  sides  of  thine  house :  thy 
children  like  olive  plants  round  about  thy  table." 

011a  Podrida.  A  Spanish  term  for  a  mixture  of  meat  and 
vegetables  collected  in  a  common  pot  for  cooking  as 
required.  In  a  literary  sense  it  signifies  a  miscellany 
of  short  productions.  The  French  equivalent  for  the 
term  is  pot-pourri,  which  is  also  employed  figuratively. 

Omnibus.  The  dative  Latin  plural  of  omnes,  all.  In  a 
public  vehicle  of  this  kind  there  is  room  for  many, 
without  class  distinction. 

One-horse.  A  term  used  adjectively  for  anything  mean  or 
insignificant.  This  figure  of  speech  is  derived  from 
agriculture. 

Oneida.      Indian  for  "  people  of  the  beacon  stone." 

Ontario.  From  the  Indian  Onontae,  which  expresses  "the 
village  on  the  mountain,"  whence  the  tribe  of  the 
Onondagas  derive  their  name. 

On  this  Side   of  Jordan.     An  Americanism  for  "in  this 

life"  or  "in  this  world." 
Opal.      From  the  Sanskrit  opula,  through  the  Latin  opa/us, 

a  precious  stone. 

Oporto.      Portuguese  for  "  the  harbour." 

Orange  Lilies.  The  35th  Foot,  so  called  on  account  of 
the  facings  on  their  uniform. 

Orangemen.  The  Protestants  in  the  northern  provinces 
of  Ireland,  so  called  on  account  of  their  adherence 
to  William  III.,  Prince  of  Orange,  in  opposition  to 
the  "  Jacobites  "  or  the  adherents  of  the  Stuart  king, 
James  II. 

Orange   Peel.     One  of  the  nicknames  of  Sir  Robert  Peel, 
owing  to  his  strong  anti-Catholic  spirit.     See  "  Orange- 
men." 
R 


/ 


258      Orange  River — Oriel  College 

Orange  River.  This,  the  largest  river  in  South  Africa, 
received  its  name  from  the  colour  of  its  waters  when 
in  flood. 

Orange  River  Free  State.  This  name  was  given  by  the 
"  Boers  "  to  what  is  now  British  territory  in  South  Africa 
because  its  early  settlers  were  also  emigrants  from  the 
principality  of  Orange  in  Holland.  Its  new  title  is 
the  Orange  River  Colony. 

Orange  Street.  In  compliment  to  William  III.,  Prince  of 
Orange. 

Orator  Henley.  The  sobriquet  of  John  Henley,  an 
English  divine  who  in  1726  attracted  large  and 
fashionable  congregations  in  a  so-called  "Oratory  "or 
chapel  in  Newport  Market. 

Oratorio.  A  term  derived  from  the  fact  that  the  first 
sacred  musical  dramas  or  cantatas  were  performed  in 
the  Church  of  the  Oratorians,  which  religious  Order 
was  founded  by  St  Philip  Nero  at  Rome  in  1540. 

Orchard  Street.  Off  Portman  Square,  after  Orchard  Port- 
man,  one  of  the  country  seats  of  the  Portmans  in 
Somersetshire.  At  Westminster,  from  the  ancient 
orchard  belonging  to  the  Abbey. 

Orchestra.  A  Greek  term  applied  to  the  place  in  the 
theatre  allotted  to  the  chorus  of  the  dancers.  Among 
the  moderns  it  expresses  the  place  assigned  to  the 
instrumentalists. 

Orchid.  From  the  Greek  orchis,  a  testicle,  which  the  root 
of  this  plant  resembles. 

Oregon.  From  the  Spanish  Oregano,  "wild  majorum," 
which  grows  abundantly  in  this  state. 

Orellana.  The  original  name  of  the  "Amazon"  River, 
after  its  navigator. 

Oriel  College.  This  college  at  Oxford  was  built  in  1326 
by  Adam  de  Brome,  the  Almoner  of  Edward  II.,  and 
called  by  him  St  Mary's  College.  A  few  years  later 
Edward  III.  added  to  its  revenues  a  rich  messuage  hard 


Orinoco — Ouida  259 

by  known  as  "Le  Oriel,"  from  which  circumstance  the 
foundation  received  the  name  which  it  now  bears. 

Orinoco.       Indian  for  "  coiling  snake." 

Orion  Home.  One  of  the  sobriquets  of  Richard  Home, 
author  of  "  Orion,"  which  acquired  an  exceptional 
notoriety  on  account  of  its  being  published  at  the  low 
price  of  one  farthing. 

Orkney  Isles.  Under  the  name  of  Orcades  these  are 
mentioned  by  the  ancient  geographers.  Orkney  is 
Gaelic  for  "Isle  of  Whales." 

Orleans.  A  corruption  of  Aureliani,  after  the  Roman 
Emperor  Aurelian. 

Orloff  Diamond.  This  gem,  weighing  194  carats,  and 
purchased  by  Catherine  II.  of  Russia  in  1775,  Pre~ 
serves  the  family  name  of  that  Empress. 

Orme  Square.  After  the  name  of  a  printseller  of  Bond 
Street  who  bought  the  land  and  built  upon  it. 

Orrery.       After  the  Earl  of  Orrery,  who  first  caused  one  to 

be  made. 
Osnaburg   Street.      Named   in   compliment  to  Frederick, 

Duke  of  York  and  Albany,  the  last  sovereign-bishop 

of  Osnaburg  in  Hanover. 
Ossulton  Street.     See  "Lisson  Grove." 
Ostend.     Literally  the  east  end  of  Flanders  in  Belgium. 
Ostler.      From  the  French  hostelier,  an  innkeeper. 

Oswestry.  A  corruption  of  Oswaldstry,  the  "place  of 
Oswald,"  where  Oswald,  King  of  Northumbria,  was 
slain  in  642.  Evidence  of  this  is  afforded  by  the 
original  name  of  Oswald's  Well,  which  yields  a  spring 
of  pure  water. 

Ottawa.     Expresses  the  Indian  for  "  traders." 

Ottoman  Empire.  That  of  the  Turks,  founded  by  Othman 
I.  at  the  commencement  of  the  fourteenth  century. 

Ouida.  The  pseudonym  of  Louise  de  la  Ram£e.  This 
was  suggested  to  her  at  the  very  commencement  of 
her  literary  career  by  the  infantile  perversion  of  Louise 
into  "Ouida." 


260  Ouse — Oyster  Part 

Ouse.     From  the  Celtic  uisg,  water. 

Out  of  Collar.  Out  of  harness  and  the  working  habit. 
A  horse  has  the  collar  slipped  over  its  neck  when 
put  to  work. 

Out  of  Sorts.  A  technical  phrase  in  the  printing  trade. 
"Sorts"  are  the  different  sizes  and  kinds  of  type  used 
by  a  compositor.  At  times  he  runs  short  of  "  sorts," 
so  that  the  composition  of  the  particular  work  in  hand 
has  to  be  suspended  until  the  required  sorts  are 
obtained,  either  by  distributing  old  matter  put  up  in 
paper  or  sending  to  the  typefounder's  for  a  new 
supply.  Hence  a  person  indisposed  for  work  con- 
fesses to  being  "  out  of  sorts." 

Ovidius  Naso.     See"Naso." 

Oxford.  Cited  in  Domesday  Book  as  Oxeneford.  Liter- 
ally a  ford  for  the  passage  of  oxen  across  the  River 
Isis. 

Oxford  Blues.  The  Royal  Horse  Guards,  from  their  dark 
blue  uniforms  and  the  circumstance  that  this  regiment 
of  horse  was  first  raised  by  Aubrey,  Earl  of  Oxford, 
soon  after  the  Restoration. 

Oxford  Movement.  The  great  Catholic  revival  in  England, 
which,  midway  in  the  last  century,  resulted  in  the 
passing  over  of  many  of  the  most  eminent  Oxford 
scholars  to  the  Church  of  Rome. 

Oxford  Street.  After  Edward  Harley,  Earl  of  Oxford 
and  Mortimer,  landlord  of  the  estate  north  of  this 
principal  thoroughfare. 

Oyez,  Oyez.  The  old  French  ceremonial  exclamation 
("  Hear  ye,  hear  ye ! ")  to  enjoin  silence.  This 
obtained  in  our  own  country  when  French  was  the 
language  of  the  Court.  In  modern  times  it  has  been 
corrupted  by  Court  criers  and  town  bellmen  into 
"Oyes,  Oyes." 

Oyster  Part.  In  theatrical  parlance  a  part  which  contains 
only  one  line  or  speech;  like  an  oyster,  the  actor 
opens  his  mouth  but  once. 


Pacha — Pagan  2  6 1 


Pacha.      See  "  Pasha." 

Pacific  Ocean.  So  called  by  Magellan,  who,  after  a 
tempestuous  passage  through  t(he  straits  which  bear 
his  name,  enjoyed  a  cruise  of  three  months  and  twenty- 
one  days  across  this  ocean  in  continuous  fine  weather, 
and  with  the  advantage  of  favourable  winds. 

Pack  Horse.  An  inn  sign  denoting  that  the  establishment 
provided  accommodation  for  "Packmen,"  and  also 
that  pack  horses  were  let  out  on  hire. 

Packmen.  The  old  name  for  commercial  travellers,  whose 
goods  or  samples  were  carried  in  packs  or  sacks  fastened 
to  the  saddle  of  a  pack  horse. 

Paddington.  The  ancient  description  of  this  parish  was 
"  Padynton,"  the  settlement  of  the  Paedings.  Another 
branch  of  the  same  family  gave  its  name  to  "  Paden- 
dene  " — i.e.  the  wooded  valley  of  the  Paedings  in  Surrey. 

Paddington  Street.  Originally  a  narrow  lane  leading 
northward  on  to  the  common  known  as  Paddington 
Fields. 

Paddle  your  own  Canoe.  Originally  a  Western  phrase 
for  self-reliance.  A  canoe  is  an  Indian  boat  affording 
room  for  one  person.  If  he  cannot  paddle  it  himself 
no  one  else  is  in  a  position  to  help  him.  The  ex- 
pression became  extremely  popular  in  England  through 
a  song  of  this  title  thirty  years  ago. 

Paddy.  The  common  name  for  an  Irishman,  being  short 
for  "  Pat,"  after  St  Patrick,  the  patron  saint  of  Ireland. 

Pagan.  This  term  had  at  first  not  the  slightest  connection 
with  religion.  Derived  from  the  Latin  pagus>  the 
country,  a  paganus  denoted  a  peasant  or  villager. 
Removed  from  the  refinement  of  the  cities  such  a  one 
had,  of  course,  very  little  acquaintance  with  the  com- 
plicated system  of  Roman  mythology.     On  this  account 


262     Page  Green — Palmetto  State 

only  could  it  be  said  that  those  who  remained  uncon- 
verted to  Christianity  were  Pagans. 

Page   Green.     See  "  Seven  Sisters'  Road." 

Painted  Hall.  The  picture  gallery  of  Greenwich  Hospital 
received  this  name  on  account  of  its  superbly  painted 
ceiling. 

Painter.  The  rope  by  which  the  "Jolly  Boat"  or  any 
other  is  attached  to  a  vessel,  so  called  from  the  Latin 
panther ;  through  the  French  pantier^  a  drag  net. 

Paint  the  Town.  An  Americanism  for  a  night's  drunken 
frolic ;  the  allusion  is  to  a  drunkard's  red  nose. 

Palace  Car.  An  Americanism  for  a  "Pullman"  or  Saloon 
car. 

Palaver.     From  the  Portuguese palavra,  "a  talk." 

Pale  Faces.  The  name  popularly  bestowed  upon  the 
whites  by  the  North  American  Indians. 

Palestine.  From  the  Hebrew  Palcestina,  "  the  land  of 
strangers."  This  was  the  ancient  Philistia,  the  country 
of  the  Philistines,  a  term  derived  like  that  of  Palestine 
from  the  root  phalash,  to  emigrate  or  wander. 

Pall  Mall.  From  a  species  of  croquet,  called  Paille  Maille^ 
introduced  by  Charles  II.  after  his  involuntary  exile 
in  France,  and  played  by  him  and  his  courtiers  here 
when  the  thoroughfare  was  open  to  St  James's  Park. 

Palmer.  The  name  bestowed  upon  a  "  Pilgrim  "  returning 
from  the  Holy  Land  who  carried  a  palm  branch, 
usually  affixed  to  his  head-gear,  as  a  proof  that  he  had 
actually  accomplished  his  self-imposed  task.  On 
arriving  at  the  place  whence  he  had  set  out  he  repaired 
to  the  church  or  chapel,  and  offered  the  palm  to  the 
parish  priest,  who  laid  it  on  the  altar  on  his  behalf. 

Palmetto  City.  Augusta,  the  capital  of  the  Palmetto 
State. 

Palmetto  State.  South  Carolina,  from  the  palmetto-tree 
in  her  arms.  During  the  Civil  War  the  soldiers  of 
this  state  bore  the  name  of  "  Palmetto  Boys." 


Palm  it  off— Pancake  Tuesday    263 

Palm  it  off.  A  phrase  derived  from  the  usual  procedure 
of  a  conjurer,  who  is  an  adept  at  concealing  in  the  palm 
of  his  hand  that  which  he  pretends  to  have  "  passed  " 
elsewhere. 

Palm  Oil.  A  bribe  placed  in  the  hand  of  a  servant  makes 
him  the  more  willing  to  throw  open  the  apartment  of 
the  great  man  to  whom  one  wishes  to  gain  access. 

Palm  Sunday.  From  the  palms  distributed  to  the  con- 
gregation by  the  Catholic  Church  in  commemoration 
of  Christ's  entry  into  the  city  of  Jerusalem,  when  the 
populace  strewed  palm  branches  and  leaves  in  His 
path. 

Palmy  Days  of  the  Drama.  The  days  of  our  greatest  ex- 
ponents of  the  Drama,  so  called  because,  had  such 
celebrated  histriones  as  Garrick,  Mrs  Siddons,  the 
Keans,  and  the  Kembles  lived  in  the  time  of  the 
Romans,  they  would  have  been  awarded  a  palm  branch 
in  recognition  of  their  genius. 

Palsgrave  Place.  In  honour  of  Frederick,  King  of  Bo- 
hemia, Palsgrave  of  the  Rhine,  married  to  the  Princess 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  James  I. 

Pam.      The  popular  name  of  Lord  Palmerston. 

Pamphlet.  After  Pamphilia,  a  Greek  lady  who  kept  a 
commonplace  book  for  the  collection  of  anecdotes  and 
literary  memoranda. 

Panama.  Expresses  the  Carribean  for  "  mud  fish,"  with 
which  the  shores  of  this  isthmus  abound. 

Panama  Hat.  A  corruption  of  "  Palmata  Hat,"  from  the 
primitive  head  covering  in  equatorial  South  America 
made  out  of  the  large  leaf  of  the  Cardulavia  palmata 
tree. 

Pancake  Tuesday.  From  the  pancakes  eaten  on  this  day. 
The  custom  arose  in  Catholic  days  with  a  view  to  using 
up  the  eggs  and  lard  that  were  interdicted  during  Lent ; 
also  because  pancakes  were  an  excellent  stay  to  the 
appetite  while  the  faithful  had  to  wait  long  hours  in 
church  to  be  shrived  by  the  priest  in  the  confessional. 


264         Pancras  Road — Pantheon 

Pancras  Road.  From  Old  St  Pancras  parish  church. 
New  St  Pancras  church  is  situated  in  the  Euston  Road. 

Panel  Den.  An  Americanism  for  a  brothel,  in  which  the 
rooms  are  panelled  off  into  small  compartments. 

Pan-Handle  State.  West  Virginia,  on  account  of  its  shape, 
rising  up  like  a  wedge  between  Pennsylvania  and 
Ohio. 

Panorama.  Expresses  the  Greek  for  "a  view  of  the 
whole,"  as  would  be  obtained  from  a  monument  or  a 
natural  eminence.  This  is  the  correct  description  of 
a  picture  exhibited  in  a  circular  building,  where  the 
spectators  are  placed  in  the  centre ;  not  at  all  of  an  old 
form  of  picture  entertainment  at  one  end  of  a  hall,  which 
approximates  to  a  Diorama,  because  conformably  to  di, 
through,  it  is  viewed  through  the  darkness. 

Pantaloon.  One  of  the  characters  of  the  Italian  comedy  or 
"Pantomime,"  so  called  because  he  was  typical  of  the 
Venetians,  wearing,  like  them,  originally  a  close-fitting 
garment  made  all  in  one  piece,  known  as  a  pantaleone. 
The  Venetians  were  nicknamed  Pantaleone  ("all 
lion ")  from  their  common  patron,  St  Mark,  whose 
symbol  was  a  lion  j  hence  the  application  of  the  term 
pantaloons  to  tight-fitting  knickerbockers  or  trousers. 

Pantaloonery.  An  Americanism  for  trouser  material.  See 
"  Pantaloon." 

Pantechnicon.  A  Greek  word  compounded  out  of  pan, 
all,  and  techne,  art.  The  large  vehicle  of  this  name 
was  first  used  exclusively  for  the  conveyance  of 
pictures  and  art  treasures  to  exhibitions. 

Pantheism.  From  the  Greek  pan,  all,  and  theos,  God;  the 
religion  which  recognises  the  Spirit  of  God  moving 
throughout  all  the  processes,  works,  and  glories  of  His 
creation.  The  single  doctrine  expressed  by  Pantheism 
is  that  "God  is  everything,  and  everything  is  God." 

Pantheon.  The  Roman  temple  erected  in  honour  of  the 
gods  collectively,  so  called  from  the  Greek  pan,  all, 
and  theos,  god. 


Pantomime — Parachute  265 

Pantomime.  In  the  modern  sense  a  pantomime  is  an 
entertainmeut  in  which  current  events  or  fashionable 
foibles  are  introduced  by  way  of  burlesque.  Formerly 
it  denoted  a  performance  of  Italian  comedy  in  which 
the  action  took  place  in  dumb  show,  so  called  from 
the  Greek  pantomimos,  an  imitator  of  all  or  everything. 
The  Roman  mimes  or  mimi  were  not  theatrical  per- 
formers, but  mutes  at  funerals,  whose  function  it  was 
to  imitate  the  characteristic  actions  of  the  deceased 
— e.g.  the  virtue  of  generosity. 

Panton  Street.  After  a  noted  gamester,  Colonel  Thomas 
Panton,  whose  daughter  became  connected  by  mar- 
riage with  the  family  of  the  ground  landlord,  Lord 
Arundel  of  Wardour. 

Pants.  Short  for  "pantaloons,"  an  Americanism  for 
trousers.     See  "Pantaloon." 

Panyer  Alley.  This  was  an  alley  behind  an  ancient 
church  facing  Cheapside,  where  the  bakers  stood  with 
their  bread  paniers.  The  word  "panier"  is  French 
for  a  bread  basket. 

Pan's  Pipes.  The  primitive  reed  instrument  named  after 
Pan,  the  god  of  shepherds. 

Pansy.  From  the  French  "penseeV'  which  in  the  Lan- 
guage of  Flowers  means  "  thoughts." 

Papa.      See  "Pope." 

Papal  Bull.  So  called  on  account  of  the  bulla,  a  seal 
embellished  with  the  symbol  of  St  Peter. 

Paper.  From  the  Greek papyros,  the  Egyptian  plant  out  of 
the  reeds  of  which  the  earliest  writing  material  was  made. 

Paper  King.  John  Law,  the  projector  of  the  Mississippi 
Scheme,  whose  prospectus  promised  fortunes  that  were 
never  realised  by  the  luckless  speculators. 

Papua.  Expresses  the  Portuguese  for  "frizzled."  This 
name  was  bestowed  upon  the  natives  of  New  Guinea 
on  account  of  their  enormous  heads  of  frizzled  hair. 

Parachute.  From  the  Greek  para,  "beyond,"  and  the 
French  chute,  "a  fall." 


266      Paraquay — Parliamentarians 

Paraquay.  Expresses  the  Brazilian  for  the  country  of  the 
Para,  or  "great  river." 

Parasol.  This  term  is  now  obsolete,  having  been  superseded 
by  "  Sunshade."  Derived  through  the  Italian  parasole, 
from  the  Greek  para,  beyond,  and  sol,  the  sun,  its 
meaning  was  synonymous  with  that  of  its  modern 
substitute. 

Parchment.  From  the  Greek  pergamenos,  through  the 
French  parchemin,  so  called  after  Pergamos,  the  city 
of  Asia  Minor  where,  consequent  upon  Ptolemy's 
prohibition  of  the  exportation  of  the  Egyptian  papy- 
rus, dried  goatskins  were  first  utilised  for  a  writing 
material. 

Paris.  Called  by  the  Romans  Lutetia  Parisiorum,  a  name 
signifying  the  collection  of  mud  huts  inhabited  by  the 
Parisii,  a  Gallic  tribe  conquered  by  them. 

Paris  Garden.  A  notorious  bear-baiting  establishment  in 
South  London  for  several  centuries,  so  called  after 
Robert  de  Paris  in  the  reign  of  Richard  I.  The  en- 
trance thereto  is  fixed  by  what  bears  the  name  of 
Bear  Garden  at  the  corner  of  Sumner  Street,  Borough. 

Park  Lane.  Originally  a  narrow  lane  skirting  the  east 
side  of  Hyde  Park ;  it  is  now  one  of  the  most  fashion- 
able streets  in  the  West  End  of  London. 

Park  Street.  Leads  westward  from  Camden  Town  to 
Regent's  Park. 

Parker  Street.  In  honour  of  Archbishop  Parker,  who 
founded  two  fellowships  and  five  scholarships  at 
Corpus  Christi  College,  Cambridge,  in  addition  to  pre- 
senting it  with  a  valuable  library  of  ancient  manu- 
scripts. This  street  was  at  one  time  called  Bennet 
Street,  after  the  original  name  of  the  college,  from 
the  adjacent  church  of  St  Benedict. 

Parliament.  From  the  French  parlerment,  founded  on  the 
Latin  verb  park r,  to  speak.     See  "Parlour." 

Parliamentarians.      The  forces  under  the   Parliament  of 


Parliamentary  Whip — Pasha      267 

the  Commonwealth  under  Cromwell  during  the  Civil 
War  with  Charles  I.  and  the  Royalists. 

Parliamentary  Whip.  One  whose  duty  it  is  to  hunt  up 
Members  of  the  House  of  Commons  when  questions 
of  grave  import  are  being  put  to  the  vote. 

Parliament  of  Dunces.  That  convened  at  Coventry  by 
Henry  IV.  in  1404  because  it  did  not  number  among 
its  members  a  single  lawyer.  Sir  Edward  Coke  styled 
this  the  "Unlearned"  and  also  the  "Lawless 
Parliament." 

Parlour.  Originally  the  apartment  reserved  for  visitors 
where  conversation  could  be  indulged  undisturbed. 
See  "Parliament." 

Parnellites.  The  Home  Rule  party  in  Ireland  during  the 
lifetime  of  their  political  leader,  Charles  Stewart 
Parnell. 

Parry  Islands.  Discovered  by  Rear-Admiral  Sir  William 
Parry  in  the  course  of  his  search  for  the  North- West 
Passage. 

Parsees.  The  modern  designation  of  the  Zoroastrians  or 
Fire  Worshippers  in  Persia  and  India.  The  Parsees 
were  the  original  inhabitants  of  Persia,  a  wild  Ayrian 
family  called  the  Parsa,  meaning  "  The  Tigers."  By 
the  Greeks  the  territory  they  overran  was  styled 
Perseus,  on  account  of  their  chief  stronghold,  Persipolis, 
"  the  city  of  the  Parsa,"  the  ruins  of  which  may  yet  be 
seen.  The  modern  Parsees  are  therefore  descendants 
of  those  who  refused  to  embrace  Mohammedanism. 

Parsons  Green.  Prior  to  the  year  1740  the  parsonage  of 
Fulham  Parish  Church  stood  facing  this  green.  On 
its  roof  was  a  cross  which  bore  the  name  of  "  Parson's 
Cross,"  afterwards  corrupted  into  "Percy  Cross." 

Partridge  Day.  The  first  of  September,  when  partridge 
shooting  commences. 

Pasha.  A  Western  corruption  of  the  Turkish  "Pashaw," 
from  the  Persian  bdshd,  a  governor  or  ruler  of  a 
province  under  the  Shah  or  King. 


268   Passenger  Pigeon — Passover 

Passenger  Pigeon.  So  called  on  account  of  its  migratory 
habits.     This  species  is  found  chiefly  in  America. 

Passing  Bell.  That  rung  at  the  parish  church  to  announce 
publicly  that  the  soul  of  a  parishioner  has  just  passed 
away. 

Passion  Flower.  The  traditional  reverence  for  this 
favourite  flower  is  due  to  a  fancied  resemblance  of 
its  tints  and  various  parts  to  the  instruments  of 
Christ's  Passion;  also  because  it  remains  open  for 
three  days,  corresponding  to  the  period  between  the 
Last  Supper  and  the  Resurrection. 

Passionists.  A  missionary  Order  founded  by  St  Francis 
de  Paulo,  otherwise  "  St  Paul  of  the  Cross,"  for  the 
preaching  of  "  Christ's  Passion  and  Him  Crucified." 

Passion  Play.  An  alfresco  sacred  drama  based  upon  the 
incidents  of  Christ's  Passion  and  Death  ;  that  per- 
formed every  tenth  year  at  Oberammergau  is  world 
famous. 

Passion  Sunday.  Although  this  should  properly  be  the 
first  day  of  what  is  called  Passion  Week,  Palm  Sunday 
is  in  a  sense  a  feast  day,  in  allusion  to  the  triumphant 
entry  of  Christ  into  Jerusalem.  The  Sunday  previous 
is  therefore  set  apart  for  a  general  commemoration  of 
the  Passion — all  crosses,  statues,  and  paintings  in  the 
churches  being  draped  in  purple,  with  a  view  to  con- 
centrating the  attention  of  the  worshippers  on  the 
sufferings  of  the  Redeemer. 

Passion  Week.  The  week  in  which  Good  Friday  occurs, 
in  commemoration  of  Christ's  Passion. 

Passive  Resister.  One  who  in  our  own  day  passively 
resists  the  imposition  of  the  Education  Rate  by 
allowing  his  goods  to  be  seized  or  going  to  prison 
instead  of  resorting  to  active  measures  of  violence. 

Passover.  The  great  Jewish  festival  commemorative  of 
the  Destroying  Angel  having  passed  over  or  spared 
the  houses  of  the  Israelites  whose  doorposts  were 
sprinkled  with  the  blood  of  the  lamb  slain  overnight 


Pastoral  Letter— Pawn  269 

by   Divine  command.     The   Hebrew   term   for   this 

festival  is  Pesach,  whence  "Pasch"  has  been  derived. 
Pastoral  Letter.      One    addressed   by    a   bishop    to    his 

flock.     As  his  title  implies,  he  is  an  overseer,  and  his 

crook  is  symbolical  of  a  shepherd. 
Pat.     See  "  Paddy." 

Patagonia.  This  name,  from  the  Spanish  patagon,  a 
large,  clumsy  foot,  was  given  by  Magellan  to  the 
country  because,  seeing  the  impressions  of  the  great 
shoes  worn  by  the  natives,  he  imagined  them  to  be 
giants. 

Paternoster  Row.  Two  reasons  are  assigned  for  this 
designation.  The  Row  was  the  locale  of  the  makers 
of  "  Pater  Nosters,"  or  rosary  beads,  so  called  from  the 
name  of  the  first  large  bead,  and  the  sellers  of  re- 
ligious texts  and  prayer-books.  Also  because  on  great 
festival  days  the  monks  went  in  solemn  procession  to 
St  Paul's,  the  recital  of  the  Pater  Noster  being  com- 
menced at  the  eastern  corner  of  the  lane,  outside  the 
churchyard,  and  concluded  at  the  western  extremity, 
where  the  Ave  Maria  was  then  taken  up.  See  "  Amen 
Corner." 

Pathfinder.  The  surname  of  General  John  Charles 
Fremont,  the  leader  of  four  exploring  expeditions  across 
the  Rocky  Mountains. 

Patricians.     See  "  Plebeians." 

Paul's  Chain.  This  lane,  on  the  south  side  of  the  Paul's 
Churchyard,  formerly  had  a  chain  drawn  across  it 
during  divine  service ;  hence  its  name. 

Paul  Veronese.  The  better -known  name  of  the  cele- 
brated Italian  painter  Paulo  Cagliari,  who  was  born 
at  Verona. 

Pawn.  In  relation  to  the  game  of  chess.  The  ordinary 
piece  or  "man"  bears  this  name  from  the  French 
peon,  a  walker  or  foot  soldier,  the  superior  pieces 
being  kings,  queens,  knights,  castles,  and  bishops. 
An  article  left  in  the  charge  of  a  pawnbroker  is  called 
a  pawn,  from  the  French  pan,  a  pledge. 


2  jo  Pawnbroker — Peeler 

Pawnbroker.      See  "  Pawn  "  and  "  Broker." 

Peabody  Buildings.  After  George  Peabody,  the  American 
philanthropist,  who  left  a  huge  fortune  in  trust  for  the 
building  of  "  model  dwellings  "  for  the  poorer  classes. 
His  statue,  at  the  back  of  the  Royal  Exchange,  was 
unveiled  23rd  July  1869. 

Peach.  A  schoolboy  term  for  to  inform  against  another. 
In  allusion  to  the  fruit  of  this  name,  it  means  to  turn 
soft-hearted,  and  betray.  In  American  the  word  is 
used  to  denote  a  pretty  woman  or  anything  soft  and 
beautiful. 

Peacock.  An  inn  sign  dating  from  the  Crusades,  when, 
the  flesh  of  the  peacock  being  deemed  incorruptible, 
this  bird  was  adopted  by  many  a  knight  as  a  crest, 
typical  of  the  Resurrection.  "  By  the  peacock  "  was  a 
common  oath  in  those  days. 

Pearl  Bible.  So  called  from  the  name  of  the  printing 
type  employed  in  its  composition. 

Peckham.  A  corruption  of  Beckham,  a  home  or  settlement 
among  the  becks  or  brooks. 

Peckham  Rye.  In  its  application  to  a  common,  the  word 
"Rye"  comes  from  the  Anglo-Saxon  ree,  a  watercourse. 

Peculiar  People.  Originally  those  who  believed  that 
disease  was  the  direct  consequence  of  sin,  and  that  by 
prayer  alone  could  it  be  removed.  See  "Faith 
Healers." 

Pedlar.  An  itinerant  trader,  so  called  in  conformity  with 
the  Latin  pedes,  the  feet. 

Pedro  the  Cruel.  The  surname  of  the  King  of  Castile 
and  Leon,  who,  midway  in  the  fourteenth  century, 
murdered  his  two  brothers  and  poisoned  his  queen. 
How  he  meted  out  punishment  to  those  outside  his 
own  family  may  be  guessed. 

Peeler.  The  old  name  for  a  policeman,  after  Sir  Robert 
Peel,  to  whom  the  introduction  of  the  modern  system 
of  Watch  and  Ward  was  due. 


Peep  O'Day  Boys — Penny  Blood    271 

Peep  O'Day  Boys.  Irish  insurrectionists  who  broke  into 
the  houses  of  the  people  at  peep  of  day  in  search  of 
arms.  They  were  not  averse  to  carrying  off  other 
plunder  at  the  same  time. 

Peewit.      This  bird  is  so  called  from  its  characteristic  notes. 

Peg  Away.  Originally  a  camping  phrase.  When  a  tent 
is  being  put  up  it  is  necessary  to  secure  its  ropes  to 
the  ground  on  all  sides  before  the  work  can  be  left, 
lest  the  whole  structure,  caught  by  the  wind,  should 
be  blown  down. 

Pekin.     Chinese  for  "  northern  capital." 

Pelican  State.     Louisiana,  from  the  pelican  in  her  arms. 

Pembroke.  Called  by  the  Welsh  "  Penbroshire,"  signifying 
the  pen  or  head  of  the  bro  or  country ;  literally  the 
Land's  End. 

Pembroke  College.  Founded  at  Cambridge  in  1348  by 
the  widow  of  Aylmar  de  Valence,  Earl  of  Pembroke. 

Peninsula  State.     Florida. 

Penitentiary.  The  modern  name  for  a  "Magdalen  Hospital," 
designed  as  a  home  or  refuge  for  fallen  women  who 
are  penitent.  This  term  was  adopted  also  by  the 
Quakers  of  Philadelphia  in  1786  for  a  prison. 

Penknife.  A  small  pocket-knife  intended  primarily  for 
cutting  quill  pens.  Though  quills  are  no  longer  in 
fashion,  save  among  lawyers  and  bankers,  and  the 
penknife  is  serviceable  only  for  trimming  one's  finger 
nails,  its  original  name  survives. 

Pennsylvania.  From  the  Latin  sy/va,  a  wood;  expresses 
the  colony  in  the  wood  founded  by  William  Penn. 

Penny.  From  the  Danish  pennig  and  German  pfennig,  a 
copper  coin  of  full  value.  This  was  originally  nicked 
across  to  admit  of  being  broken  into  halves  and 
quarters. 

Penny  Blood.  The  modern  substitute  for  the  "  Penny 
Dreadful."  The  term  "Blood"  is  short  for  a  blood- 
curdling relation. 


272  Penny  Gaff— Pentonville 

Penny  Gaff.  The  term  applied  to  a  low-class  theatre,  in 
allusion  to  the  first  Drury  Lane  Theatre,  built  on  the 
site  of  a  famous  cockpit.  Gafwas  but  another  name 
for  a  cockpit,  expressing  as  it  did  in  various  languages 
the  iron  hook,  fork,  or  spur  with  which  the  cocks 
were  goaded  when  they  showed  a  reluctance  to  fight. 

Penny  Wedding.  One  to  which  all  the  villagers  are 
invited,  each  contributing  his  or  her  quota  to  the  ex- 
penses of  the  feast  amounting  to  less  than  a  shilling, 
while  children  uniformly  bring  a  penny. 

Pennyweight.  Anciently,  before  standard  weights  came 
into  use,  the  weight  of  a  Norman  silver  penny. 

Penrith.  A  corruption  of  "Perith,"  from  Perith  Hill,  at 
the  foot  of  which  the  town  is  situated.  The  name  is 
Celtic  for  "red  hill,"  in  allusion  to  the  red  stone 
quarried  on  the  spot. 

Pensioner  Parliament.  That  of  Charles  II.,  which,  though 
it  lasted  sixteen  years  and  a  half,  was  more  remarkable 
for  the  bestowal  of  pensions  upon  the  adherents  of 
the  King  than  for  the  framing  of  new  laws. 

Pentateuch.  A  Greek  word  compounded  out  of  ftenta,  five, 
and  teuchos,  an  implement,  tool.  This  name  was 
given  to  the  first  five  books  collectively  of  the  Old 
Testament,  its  second  portion  being  applicable  in  the 
sense  of  an  instrument  of  direct  communication  be- 
tween God  and  His  people. 

Pentecost.  From  the  Greek  pentekoste,  the  fiftieth  day ; 
relative  to  the  gift  of  the  Law  to  the  Israelites  fifty 
days  after  their  deliverance  out  of  the  Land  of 
Bondage.  This  great  festival,  corresponding  to  the 
Whitsuntide  of  the  Christians,  is  celebrated  by  the 
Jews  on  the  fiftieth  day  after  the  "  Passover." 

Penton  Street.     See  "  Pentonville." 

Pentonville.  Prior  to  1 7  7  3  the  whole  of  this  neighbourhood 
north  of  the  New  Road  was  open  fields.  It  was  then 
acquired  for  building  purposes  by  Henry  Penton,  M.P., 
one  of  the  Lords  of  the  Admiralty,  and  received  its 


Penzance — Peru  273 

name  from  "Penton  Villa,"  his  residence,  on  the  site 
of  what  is  now  Penton  Street. 

Penzance.  Expresses  the  Celtic  for  "  Saint's  Headland,"  in 
allusion  to  St  Michael's  Mount. 

People's  Friend.  The  surname  of  Dr  William  Gordon  of 
Hull,  merited  by  his  kindly  disposition  and  unfailing 
generosity.  When  he  died  in  1849  tne  whole  town 
followed  his  body  to  the  grave,  and  the  name  by  which 
he  had  always  been  known  was  subsequently  chiselled 
on  his  tombstone. 

Percy  Cross.     See  "Parsons  Green." 

Pere  La  Chaise.  This,  the  principal  cemetery  of  Paris, 
originally  constituted  the  land  attached  to  a  beautiful 
mansion  built  by  a  grocer  named  Regnault.  After 
his  death  the  property  passed  into  the  hands  of  a  lady, 
who  made  it  over  to  the  Jesuits  of  the  Rue  St  Antoine. 
Thenceforth  the  Maison  Regnault  became  the  recog- 
nised seat  of  the  Jesuits.  In  1705  Pere  La  Chaise, 
the  confessor  of  Louis  XIV.,  was  made  Superior  to  the 
Order,  and  by  the  King's  desire  the  house  received 
his  name.  The  eventual  suppression  of  the  Order 
caused  the  property  to  be  sold  and  the  land  converted 
into  a  cemetery. 

Perfectionists.  An  American  sect  of  religionists  who, 
relying  on  the  gift  of  the  Spirit,  dispense  with  civil 
laws  so  far  as  their  own  community  is  concerned. 

Peripatetics.  The  school  of  philosophy  founded  by 
Aristotle,  who  taught  his  disciples  in  the  colonnade 
or  covered  walk  (styled  the  perifiatos,  from  fieriftatem, 
to  walk)  in  the  garden  of  Lyceus  at  Athens. 

Pernambuco.  Expresses  the  Spanish  for  "the  mouth  of 
hell,"  so  called  on  account  of  the  violent  surf,  which  is 
such  an  impediment  to  the  safe  navigation  of  the 
mouth  of  its  chief  river,  the  San  Francisco. 

Persia.      The  country  of  the  Parsa.     See  "  Parsees. 

Peru.       From  its  principal  waterway,  the  Rio  Paro,  on  the 
banks  of  which  the  ancient  city  of  Paruru  is  situated. 
S 


274        Perugino — Petticoat  Lane 

All  these  names  are  modifications  of  the  native  Para, 
water  or  river. 

Perugino.     See  "II  Perugino." 

Peter.  A  word  employed  in  America  for  running  up  the 
prices  at  an  auction.  It  is  derived  from  the  Dutch 
pethur,  to  run,  to  hurry.  The  common  name  for  a 
confederate  of  the  auctioneer  at  a  mock  auction  is  a 
"  Peter  Funk,"  that  of  the  fictitious  person  to  whom 
the  goods  are  knocked  down. 

Peter  Boat.  One  built  alike  at  both  ends,  so  that  it  can 
be  run  out  quickly.     See  "Peter." 

Peterborough.  From  the  great  Benedictine  monastery 
built  and  dedicated  to  St  Peter  by  Oswy,  King  of 
Northumbria,  in  the  seventh  century. 

Peterhouse  College.  Founded  at  Cambridge  in  connec- 
tion with  a  hospital  dedicated  to  St  Peter  by  Hugh 
de  Balsham  in  1280. 

Peterloo  Massacre.  The  name  given  to  the  dispersal  of 
Lancashire  operatives  assembled  to  discuss  Parlia- 
mentary reform  in  St  Peter's  Field,  Manchester,  by  an 
armed  force,  10th  July  18 19.  In  this  melee  many 
were  wounded  and  several  killed.  The  term  was  a 
fanciful  one,  suggested  by  the  battle  of  Waterloo  of 
five  years  previous  to  this  event. 

Peter's  Pence.  An  annual  contribution  throughout  the 
Roman  Catholic  world  for  the  upkeep  of  the  vast 
establishment  of  the  Vatican  and  the  Papal  Court. 
Since  the  loss  of  the  Papal  States  in  Italy  this  con- 
stitutes the  sole  revenue  of  the  Pope.  Anciently  it 
was  a  tax  of  a  silver  penny  in  respect  of  every  member 
of  a  household. 

Petrel.      See  "  Stormy  Petrel." 

Petticoat.  A  smaller  or  shorter  coat,  which  was  the 
ancient  description  of  a  woman's  outer  garment;  de- 
rived from  the  Norman  cotte. 

Petticoat  Lane.     Another  name  for  "  Rag  Fair,"  the  old 


Petty— Philistines  275 

clothes  mart  of  the  Jews  in  the  East  End.     Its  modern 
name  is  Middlesex  Street. 

Petty.  Provincial  for  an  out-house,  because  its  accommo- 
dation is  restricted  to  one  person;  also  called  a 
"Privy,"  short  for  private. 

Petty  Sessions.  A  criminal  court  for  the  disposal  of  petty 
or  lesser  felonies,  as  distinguished  from  the  usual 
"  Quarter  Sessions,"  where  all  graver  charges,  short 
of  those  meriting  capital  punishment,  are  dealt  with. 

Phaeton.  A  name  derived  from  the  Phaeton  of  ancient 
mythology,  who,  having  received  permission  to  drive 
the  sun  car  of  Helios,  his  father,  for  a  day,  had  the 
ill  fortune  to  cause  it  to  be  overturned,  and  thereby 
almost  set  the  world  on  fire. 

Pharmacist.  An  Americanism  for  a  chemist ;  derived,  of 
course,  from  "Pharmaceutist,"  one  who  keeps  a  phar- 
macy or  drug  store. 

Pharisees.  Those  of  the  Jews  who  affected  a  greater 
degree  of  holiness  than  their  neighbours,  and  were 
consequently  regarded  as  a  separate  people.  The 
word  is  from  the  Hebrew pharash,  "separated." 

Philadelphia.  Expresses  the  Greek  for  "  city  of  brotherly 
love."  This  name  was  happily  chosen  by  William 
Penn  for  the  capital  of  his  Quaker  colony  in  the  New 
World. 

Philippe  Egalite\     See  "  EgaliteV' 

Philippi.  A  ruined  city  of  Macedonia,  named  after 
Philip  II.  of  Macedon,  who  conquered  it.  It  was  to 
the  Philippians,  the  people  of  this  city,  that  St  Paul 
addressed  one  of  his  Epistles. 

Philippic.  A  powerful  invective  or  denunciation.  So 
called  from  a  famous  oration  of  Demosthenes  against 
Philip  of  Macedon  with  a  view  of  arousing  the  Athen- 
ians to  repel  his  ambitious  designs. 

Philippine  Islands.  Discovered  by  Magellan  in  15  21,  he 
named  them  in  honour  of  Philip  II.  of  Spain. 

Philistines.      The    inhabitants    of   ancient    Philistia,    or 


276  Philistinism—Piccadilly 

"Palestine."  Because  these  were  continually  at  war 
with  the  Jews,  the  term  has  been  applied  by  univer- 
sity students  to  the  citizens  generally,  and  to  the 
preservers  of  law  and  order  more  particularly.  "A 
battle  with  the  Philistines"  is  but  another  name  for 
"a  town  row."  By  the  people  of  Norfolk  too,  police- 
men and  bailiffs,  likewise  earwigs  and  such  tiny 
tormentors,  are  called  Philistines. 

Philistinism.  The  name  given  to  that  cynicism  which 
sneers  at  religion.  This  arose  out  of  the  scorn  with 
which  the  Philistines  of  Palestine  regarded  the  rites 
and  ceremonies  of  the  Israelites. 

Phiz.      Slang  for  the  face;  derived  from  " Physiogomy." 

Phoenicia.  Called  by  the  Greeks  Phoinike,  from  phoinos, 
purple,  which  colour  was  discovered  by  the  Tyrians 
and  manufactured  by  them  for  the  supply  of  all  the 
then  known  Eastern  nations. 

Photograph.  From  the  two  Greek  words  photos,  light, 
and  graphein,  to  write.  Accordingly  a  picture  ob- 
tained by  the  action  of  light  and  transferred  to  paper 
chemically  prepared. 

Phyrric  Dance.  The  famous  war  dance  of  the  ancient 
Greeks,  so  called  after  Phyrrichos,  a  flautist  of  great 
skill  and  renown. 

Pianoforte.  A  modern  development  of  the  old  harpsi- 
chord and  clavichord,  so  called  because  it  was  the 
first  musical  instrument  which,  by  means  of  pedals, 
admitted  the  alternations  of  piano,  soft,  and  forte, 
loud. 

Piccadilly.  After  "Piccadilla  Hall,"  a  once  famous  mart 
for  the  sale  of  "piccadilly  lace,"  having  pica,  or  spear- 
like points.  Of  this  pica,  the  word  piccadilly  expressed 
the  diminutive.  So  fashionable  was  this  lace  during 
the  time  of  Elizabeth  that  when  in  the  succeeding 
reign  of  James  I.  the  high  ruff  came  into  vogue,  it 
bore  the  name  of  a  piccadilly,  though  shorn  of  its  lace 
edging.     "Piccadilla  Hall"  must  have  stood  some- 


Pickaninny — Piggott  Diamond    277 

where  about  the  modern  circus  of  the  same  name, 
since  there  were  no  houses  further  afield. 

Pickaninny.     From  the  Spanish  pegueno  m'no,  a  little  child. 

Pick-me-up.  A  stimulating  beverage  or  a  medicinal 
tonic  as  a  remedy  for  languor  or  lowness  of  spirits. 

Pick  up.  An  Americanism  for  a  cold  dinner  composed 
of  the  fragments  of  the  previous  day's  joint.  Some- 
times such  a  one  is  called  a  "  Pick-up  Dinner." 

Picts.  The  Lowlanders  of  Scotland,  called  by  the  Romans 
picti,  or  painted  men,  because,  they  stained  their  skins 
with  woad. 

Pie  Corner.  It  has  been  considered  curious  that  the 
Great  Fire  of  London  should  have  broken  out  in 
"  Pudding  Lane  "  and  ended  at  Pie  Corner.  Scarcely 
less  curious  was  it  that  this  Pie  Corner  was  an  eating- 
house.  Its  sign  was  "The  Pie,"  a  corruption  of 
"Magpie." 

Piedmont.      Expresses  the  French  for  "mountain  foot." 

Pierrot.      French  for  "Little  Peter." 

Pig  and  Whistle.  A  tavern  sign  corrupted  from  "  Piggen 
Wassail."  Piggen  expressed  the  Anglo-Saxon  for  a 
milking  pail,  of  which  pig  was  the  diminutive.  When 
a  large  party  frequented  the  alehouse  the  liquor  was 
set  before  them  in  a  piggen,  each  helping  himself  from 
it  with  his  pig,  or  mug.  "Wassail"  was,  of  course, 
the  Anglo-Saxon  Was  heel  ("Be  in  health").  See 
"Hail." 

Pigeon  English.  That  employed  by  the  Chinese  in  their 
commercial  relations  with  Europeans.  The  word 
pigeon  is  a  native  corruption  of  "business,"  which  it 
seems  impossible  for  a  Chinaman  to  pronounce 
correctly.  Their  business  English  is  therefore  a 
jargon  of  many  languages  heard  by  him  in  the  "  Open 
Ports." 

Pig  in  a  Poke.  See  "  Buy  a  Pig  in  a  Poke  "  and  "  Let  the 
Cat  out  of  the  Bag." 

Piggott   Diamond.      One    of    the    smaller    diamonds    of 


278  Pigtails — Pimlico  Walk 

celebrity,  weighing  82J  carats.  This  was  brought  to 
England  from  India  by  Lord  Piggott  in  18 18,  when 
it  passed  into  the  hands  of  Messrs  Rundell  &  Bridge. 

Pigtails.  The  European  nickname  for  the  Chinese  on 
account  of  their  shaven  heads  and  braided  pigtails. 

Pikes.  The  name  given  in  California  to  the  poor  southern 
whites,  most  of  whom  came  from  Pike  County, 
Missouri.     See  "Pukes." 

Pilgrim.  From  the  Italian  fiellegrino,  "a  visitor  to  foreign 
lands."  Since  the  days  of  Peter  the  Hermit  and  the 
Crusades  this  term  has  been  confined  to  one  who 
travels  on  foot  to  worship  at  a  holy  shrine,  whether 
he  be  a  Christian,  Mohammedan,  or  Buddhist.  See 
"  Palmer." 

Pillow  Lace.  So  called  because  produced  by  twisted 
threads  around  rows  of  pins  arranged  on  a  cushion 
or  pillow. 

Pilot  Jack.  The  name  given  to  the  "Union  Jack"  when 
flown  from  the  mast-head  in  the  merchant  service  as  a 
signal  for  a  pilot. 

Pimlico.  This  was  originally  a  district  of  tea  gardens  for 
holiday  folk,  with  a  specialite  for  nut-brown  ales.  It 
received  its  name  from  Ben  Pimlico,  the  owner  of  a 
noted  resort  in  Hoxton  on  the  site  of  what  is  now  the 
Britannia  Theatre.  The  nut-brown  ale  was  first 
popularised  by  this  worthy,  who  could  not  have  re- 
garded the  application  of  his  name  to  ales  purveyed 
elsewhere  with  much  favour.  From  "Pimlico  Ales," 
the  neighbourhood  itself  soon  came  to  be  known  as 
Pimlico. 

Pimlico  Walk.  It  is  hard  to  believe  that  this  was  once  a 
regular  holiday  promenade  for  the  citizens  of  London. 
On  Sundays  and  on  week-day  evenings  it  was  thronged, 
skirting  as  it  did  the  famous  tea  gardens  of  Ben 
Pimlico,  in  whose  retired  arbours  courting  couples 
softly  murmured  "  sweet  nothings."  This  resort  was  to 
Londoners  of  a  bygone  day  what  Rosherville  is  in  our 


Pinafore — Pitcairn  Island        279 

own  time.  From  a  tea  garden  it  developed  into  what 
was  styled  a  "  saloon,"  and  eventually  into  a  regular 
theatre. 

Pinafore.  Literally  an  apron  pinned  on  the  bosom  and  at 
the  hips  of  the  wearer.  The  modern  example  of  a 
pinafore  with  armholes  is  pinned  or  buttoned  behind. 

Pinchbeck.  A  mixture  of  copper,  zinc,  and  tin,  out  of 
which  metal  watch  cases  and  cheap  jewellery  were 
formerly  made.  So  called  after  its  inventor,  Christopher 
Pinchbeck  of  Fleet  Street. 

Pindaric  Verse.  A  style  of  verse,  irregular  in  regard  to 
metre,  imitative  of  the  Odes  of  Pindar,  the  Roman 
poet. 

Pine-tree  State.  Maine,  from  the  pine-tree  distinguished 
in  her  arms,  symbolical  of  her  glorious  forests. 

Pin  Money.  The  allowance  made  by  a  husband  to  his 
wife  in  order  to  purchase  pins  for  the  current  year. 
Such  articles  were  at  one  time  neither  abundant  nor 
cheap. 

Pin  your  Faith  on  it.  An  expression  derived  from  the 
days  of  feudalism,  when  all  the  dependents  of  a  baron 
or  feudal  lord  displayed  his  badge  pinned  on  the  sleeve. 
Sometimes  while  on  a  predatory  expedition  of  their 
own  these  vassals  exchanged  the  badge  for  another 
to  prevent  recognition.  This  gave  rise  to  the  saying  : 
"  You  may  wear  the  badge,  but  I  cannot  pin  my  faith 
on  your  sleeve.  I  require  some  further  evidence 
whence  you  came." 

Pipeclay.  The  fine  white  clay  out  of  which  clay  pipes  are 
made. 

Pistol.  From  Pistoja  in  Italy,  where  this  kind  of  small 
firearm  was  first  introduced  in  1545. 

Pit.  The  floor  of  a  theatre  bears  this  name  because  the 
original  Drury  Lane  Theatre  was  built  by  Killigrew  on 
the  site  of  the  famous  cockpit  in  Drury  Lane. 

Pitcairn  Island.  Discovered  by  Captain  Cartaret  in  1767, 
and  named  by  him  after  one  of  his  officers. 


2  80  Pitchfork — Plantagenet 

Pitchfork.  A  fork  for  pitching  hay ;  also  one  for  determin- 
ing the  correct  pitch  of  a  musical  note. 

Pitt  Diamond.  After  Thomas  Pitt,  grandfather  of  the 
first  Lord  Chatham,  who,  while  Governor  of  Fort  St 
George  in  India,  purchased  it  for  ^24,000.  On 
coming  to  England  he  sold  this  gem,  weighing  136! 
carats  in  its  cut  state,  to  the  Duke  of  Orleans,  Regent 
of  France,  for  ;£i  30,000,  on  which  account  it  bears 
the  name  also  of  the  "Regent  Diamond."  It  decor- 
ated the  sword  hilt  of  Napoleon  I.,  and  after  the  battle 
of  Waterloo  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  Prussians. 

Pittsburg.  This  city  was  built  on  the  site  of  the  French 
Fort  Duquesne.  When,  after  a  sanguinary  engagement, 
it  was  taken  from  the  allied  French  and  Indians  in 
1758  by  General  Forbes,  he  gave  it  the  name  of  Fort 
Pitt,  after  the  English  statesman,  William  Pitt,  Earl  of 
Chatham. 

Pius  X.  The  Vatican  Journal  Voce  Delia  Verita  recently 
gave  an  authorised  explanation  as  to  why  the  present 
Pope  chose  to  be  styled  "  Pius  the  Tenth."  It  said  : 
11  The  Holy  Father  preferred  a  name  that  would  em- 
phasise the  undying  struggle  of  the  Holy  See  against 
the  Revolution.  From  the  very  beginning  Pius  has 
been  the  name  of  predilection  assumed  by  our  most 
illustrious  Pontiffs.  His  present  Holiness,  whose 
Pontificate  opens  under  a  hostile  Government,  and  at 
a  time  when  both  Pope  and  State  are  the  victims  of 
imperious  revolution,  was  determined  to  adopt  the 
title  of  'Pius  the  Tenth.'" 

Plain.  The  name  given  to  the  Girondist  party  on  the 
floor  of  the  French  House  of  Assembly  during  the 
Revolution,  as  opposed  to  the  "  Mountain  "  party. 

Plantagenet.  The  family  name  of  the  House  of  Anjou, 
which  succeeded  to  the  throne  of  England  at  the 
extinction  of  the  Norman  dynasty.  It  was  assumed 
by  Fulke  Martel,  the  first  of  this  line,  as  a  perpetual 
reminder  of  the  incident  of  having  allowed  himself  to 
be  scourged  by  two  attendants  with  branches  of  the 
genista^  or  broom  plant,  while  on  a  pilgrimage  to  the 


Platonic  Affection— Plunger       281 

Holy  Sepulchre,  as  an  atonement  for  his  murder  of  the 
Earl  of  Brittany. 
Platonic  Affection.  The  kind  of  mutual  esteem  between 
persons  of  opposite  sexes  free  from  carnal  desires  or 
love  in  an  earthly  sense,  as  advocated  by  Plato  and  his 
school  of  philosophers. 

Platonists.      The  disciples  of  Plato.     See  "Academy." 

Play  Fast  and  Loose.  An  expression  derived  from  a 
very  old  cheating  game  called  "Pricking  the  Belt," 
which  in  the  modified  form  of  "Prick  the  Garter," 
may  yet  be  met  with  at  fairs  and  race  meetings.  The 
victim  was  invited  to  stick  a  skewer  through  a  folded 
belt  so  as  to  pin  it  to  the  table ;  whereupon  the  other, 
taking  the  two  ends,  proved  that  the  belt  had  not  been 
made  fast  at  all;  hence  to  "play  fast  and  loose  with 
a  man." 

Playhouse  Yard.  Marks  the  site  of  the  "Fortune  Theatre," 
the  second  regular  playhouse  opened  in  the  city  of 
London. 

Please  the  Pigs.  A  corruption  of  "Please  the  Pixies,"  or 
woodland  fairies,  still  common  in  many  rural  districts. 

Plebeians.  The  ordinary  citizens  among  the  Romans,  so 
called  from  plebs,  the  people,  as  distinguished  from 
the  "  Patricians,"  or  fathers  of  the  State. 

Plough  Monday.  The  first  Monday  after  the  Epiphany, 
when,  the  Christmas  festivities  having  come  to  an  end, 
farm  labourers  were  supposed  to  return  to  the  plough. 
Instead  of  which  they  dragged  a  plough  round  the 
parish,  begging  for  "plough  money"  from  door  to 
door,  and  spent  the  evening  at  the  alehouse. 

Plume  and  Feathers.  An  inn  sign,  corrupted  from  "The 
Plume  of  Feathers,"  in  allusion  to  the  plume  of  ostrich 
feathers  adopted  as  his  crest  by  Edward  the  Black 
Prince.     See  "  Ich  Dien." 

Plunger.  A  gambler  who^  plunges  into  bets  without  con- 
sidering the  risks  he  incurs.  Recklessness  is  his 
characteristic.     To  retrieve   his   losses   he   plays  for 


282         Plymouth— Poland  Street 

high  stakes,  which  make  or  break  him  in  a  very  short 
time. 

Plymouth.     The  seaport  town  at  the  mouth  of  the  Plym. 

Plymouth  Brethren.  A  sect  which  sprang  into  existence 
at  Plymouth  in  1830.  It  has  extended  far  and  wide, 
both  on  the  Continent  of  Europe  and  in  America.  Its 
chief  tenet  is  the  utter  rejection  of  priestly  or  ministerial 
organisation. 

Pocket  Borough.  An  old  Parliamentary  term  for  a  borough 
in  which  the  votes  at  an  election  could  generally  be 
commanded  by  one  influential  person. 

Poet  Laureate.  The  officially  appointed  poet  of  any 
nation,  so  called  from  the  Roman  custom  of  crowning 
a  favourite  poet  with  laurel,  symbolical  of  Apollo,  the 
god  of  poetry. 

Pogrom.  Expresses  the  Slavonic  for  "  devastation "  or 
"  desolation."  The  word  is  allied  to  grom,  thunder, 
thunder  clash,  and  gromit,  to  thunder,  batter  down,  as 
with  a  thunderbolt ;  utterly  overthrow,  destroy  without 
mercy. 

Pointer.  This  dog  is  so  called  on  account  of  its  remark- 
able instinct  for  pointing  out  or  indicating  to  sportsmen 
the  presence  of  game. 

Point  Lace.  So  called  because  it  is  worked  with  the 
point  of  a  needle. 

Poke  Bonnet.  One  which  poked  out  beyond  the  face 
on  all  sides.     See  "Kiss-me-Quick." 

Poland.  From  the  Slavonic  poln,  "  a  country  of  plains.'* 
Its  original  settlers  were  a  tribe  called  the  Polnali^ 
"  men  of  the  plains."  When  this  country  was  an 
independent  kingdom  it  bore  the  name  of  "  Polska," 
and  its  people  "Polacks."  Shakespeare  mentions 
"the  sledded  Polacks  on  the  ice"  in  Hamlet 
Act  i.  sc.  i. 

Poland  Street.  From  the  Polish  refugees  who  congregated 
in  it  soon  after  this  street  was  built. 


Police — Poole  283 

Police.  The  appropriate  designation  of  civil  guardians  of 
the  peace,  from  the  Greek  polls,  city. 

Polka.  Originally  a  Bohemian  dance,  so  called  from  the 
native  word  pulka,  a  half,  on  account  of  the  half  step 
peculiar  to  it. 

Polynesia.      Greek  for  "many  islands." 

Polytechnic.  An  institute  or  academy  of  the  Arts,  so 
called  from  the  Greek  polys,  many,  and  techne,  art. 

Pompeii.  So  called  by  the  Romans  in  honour  of  Pompeius 
Magnus,  or  Pompey  the  Great. 

Pomeranian.      A  valuable  breed  of  dog  from  Pomerania 

in  Prussia. 
Pomeroy.      From  pomme  roi\   expresses  the   French   for 

"  King's  Apple." 

Pommery.  After  Madame  Pommery,  mother  of  the 
Duchess  de  Polignac,  and  owner  of  the  estate  near 
Rheims  where  this  fine  brand  of  champagne  is 
produced. 

Pompadour.  Both  the  puce  colour  and  the  dress  material 
of  this  name  were  first  popularised  by  Madame  le 
Pompadour,  the  mistress  of  Louis  XV. 

Pompadours.  The  nickname  of  the  56th  Foot  on  account 
of  their  claret  or  Pompadour  facings. 

Pontac.  From  the  town  of  the  same  name  in  the  south 
of  France. 

Pontefract.  Literally  "  broken  bridge."  The  popular 
corruption  of  this  name  is  "  Pomfret." 

Pontiff.  The  Pope  of  Rome  bears  this  name  conformably 
to  the  Latin  pons,  bridge,  and  facere,  to  make,  because 
the  earliest  bridge  over  the  Tiber  was  constructed  at 
the  sole  cost  of  the  High  Priest  of  the  Romans. 

Pontius    Pilate's    Bodyguard.       The    first    regiment     of 

Foot,  the  oldest  in  the  service. 
Poole.      From  the  pool  or  inlet  of  the  sea  on  which  this 

Dorsetshire  port  is  situated. 


284  Pope — Portsoken  Ward 

Pope.       From  the  Greek  papas,  and  Latin  papa,  father. 

Poplar.  From  the  poplar-trees  formerly  abounding  in  this 
district. 

Poppin's  Court.  A  corruption  of  "Poppingay  Court"; 
originally,  in  the  reign  of  Elizabeth,  "Poppingay 
Alley,"  so  called  because  it  marked  the -site  of  an 
ancient  inn  or  mansion  owned  by  the  Abbots  of 
Cirencester,  and  displaying  the  sign  of  "the  Poppin- 
jaye  "  or  parrot. 

Pop  the  Question.  A  corruption  of  "Propose  the 
question  of  marriage." 

Porkopolis.  The  nickname  of  Chicago  and  Cincinnati, 
both  world-renowned  cities  in  relation  to  the  pork- 
packing  industry. 

Port.      The  native  wine  of  Portugal,  shipped  from  Oporto. 

Porte.  The  official  designation  of  the  Government  of 
Turkey,  because  anciently  justice  was  administered  at 
the,  porta,  or  gate,  of  the  Sultan's  palace. 

Porter.  Another  name  for  "Entire,"  which  was  first 
retailed  at  "The  Blue  Last"  in  Curtain  Road, 
Finsbury.  Finding  that  it  was  in  great  request  by 
the  porters  who  frequented  that  house  of  call,  the 
publican  dropped  the  name  of  "Entire"  and  called 
it  "Porter." 

Portland  Place.  After  William  Bentinck,  second  Duke  of 
Portland,  the  owner  of  the  estate. 

Portman  Square.  After  Edward  Berkeley  Portman,  Vis- 
count Portman  of  Bryanstone,  Dorsetshire,  the  great 
ground  landlord. 

Portmanteau.  From  the  French  porter,  to  carry,  and 
manteau,  a  cloak ;  literally  a  receptacle  for  a  cloak  on  a 
journey. 

Porto  Rico.     Express  the  Spanish  for  "  rich  port." 

Portsmouth.  The  seaport  town  built  at  the  mouth  of  the 
harbour. 

Portsoken  Ward.     One  of  the  wards  of  the  city  of  London, 


Portugal— Pot  Luck  285 

so  called  because  anciently  the  thirteen  knights  styled 
the  "  English  Knighten  Guild,"  claimed  the  soken,  or 
franchise,  at  the  porta,  or  gate,  to  their  ward  in  return 
for  services  rendered  to  King  Edgar  by  their  ancestors. 

Portugal.  From  the  ancient  name  of  the  capital  city, 
Portus  Cale,  "the  gate  of  Gaul." 

Portugal  Street.  In  compliment  to  Catherine  of  Braganza, 
queen  of  Charles  II. 

Portuguese  Hymn.  The  "Adesta  Fidelis,"  so  called  from 
the  erroneous  assumption  of  the  Duke  of  Leeds  that  it 
was  part  of  the  regular  service  in  Catholic  Portugal, 
since  he  first  heard  it  sung  in  the  private  chapel  of  the 
Portuguese  Ambassador  in  London. 

Portway.  The  name  given  to  that  portion  of  a  great 
Roman  highway  in  this  country  wherever  it  was 
crossed  by  an  arch  or  within  sight  of  a  walled  city ; 
horn  porta,  gate. 

Poser.  A  corruption  of  "  Opposer  " ;  derived  from  collegiate 
argumentative  examinations. 

Poses   Plastiques.     French  for  "  statuesque  attitudes." 

Poster.  So  called  because  auction,  play,  and  other  public 
announcments  were  first  exhibited  on  the  posts  separat- 
ing the  roadway  from  the  side  walk.  Being  stuck  on 
these  posts,  the  bills  were  said  to  be  "posted." 

Post  Paper.  So  called  from  the  original  watermark,  a 
post  horn,  which  it  bore. 

Pot  Boilers.  Specifically  pictures  painted  by  a  poor  artist 
for  ready  sale  to  a  dealer  in  order  to  "  Keep  the  pot 
boiling."  The  term  is  also  employed  by  authors  and 
journalists  in  the  same  sense. 

Pothooks.  The  nickname  of  the  77th  Foot,  owing  to  the 
fancied  resemblance  of  these  two  figures  to  pothooks. 

Pot  Luck.  Anything  ready  at  hand  for  a  meal.  The 
allusion  is  to  the  primitive  stock  pot,  into  which  meat 
and  vegetables  were  thrown  at  any  time  for  boiling  up 
as  required. 


286    Potomac — Pretty  Kettle  of  Fish 

Potomac.     Indian  for  "place  of  the  burning  pine." 

Poultry.  Where  the  scorchers  and  stuffers  of  poultry  in 
connection  with  the  old  Stocks  Market  on  the  site  of 
the  Mansion  House  had  their  shops. 

Pouter  Pigeon.     So  called  on  account  of  its  pouting  or 

bulging  breast. 
Powis  Place.     Marks  the  site  of  the  town  house  of  William 

Herbert,  Marquis  of  Powis,  temp.  Charles  I. 

Prairie  State.  Illinois,  which  for  the  most  part  consists  of 
prairie  lands. 

Praise-God  Barebone.  A  fanatical  leader  of  the  time  of 
the  Commonwealth,  and  a  prominent  member  of  the 
"Barebone  Parliament,"  who  was  addicted  to  praising 
God  and  damning  his  neighbours.  This  kind  of 
hypocrisy  was  characteristic  of  the  Puritans. 

Pratt  Street.  After  one  of  the  family  names  of  the  Earl 
of  Brecknock,  Marquis  of  Camden,  landlord  of  the 
estate. 

Presbyterians.  From  the  Greek  presbuteros^  an  elder. 
The  National  Church  of  Scotland  is  governed  not  by 
prelates,  as  in  England,  but  by  elders,  equal  in  office 
and  power. 

Press  Yard.  The  open  courtyard  between  the  Sessions 
House  and  Newgate  Prison.  Those  who  refused  to 
plead  when  put  upon  their  trial  were  pressed  to  death 
with  heavy  weights. 

Preston.  A  corruption  of  "Priests'  Town,"  so  called  on 
account  of  its  many  ancient  monastic  establishments. 

Pretoria.  In  honour  of  Pretorius,  the  first  President  of 
the  Boer  Republic  in  South  Africa. 

Pretty  Kettle  of  Fish.  Save  that  the  second  word  should 
be  "  Kiddle,"  expressive  of  a  basket  placed  in  a  river 
for  catching  fish,  this  expression  is  very  old.  During 
the  time  of  the  Plantagenets  the  warder  of  the  Tower 
claimed  the  right  of  trapping  fish  outside  Traitors' 
Gate  in  this  way  for  his  own  benefit ;  but  the  citizens 
of  London  systematically  made  a  raid  upon  his  kiddles, 


Primitive  Methodists — Printing    287 

and  destroyed  them.  "A  pretty  kiddle  of  fish 
indeed ! "  he  was  wont  to  exclaim  to  the  Beefeaters 
on  discovering  the  damage  done  to  his  preserves. 

Primitive  Methodists.  The  original  Methodists,  those 
who  resort  to  open-air  preaching  and  singing,  after 
the  style  of  Wesley  and  Whitfield.  On  account  of  their 
"  Camp  Meetings  "  they  are  styled  also  Ranters. 

Primrose.  So  far  from  expressing  the  first  or  spring  rose, 
the  term  is  a  corruption  of  the  Italian  primerola^  the 
first  spring  flower. 

Primrose  Day.  The  19th  of  April  bears  this  name  because 
it  is  the  anniversary  of  the  death  of  Lord  Beaconsfield, 
1 88 1.  When  the  body  of  this  great  statesman  was 
laid  to  rest  his  coffin  was  adorned  by  a  wreath  sent  by 
Queen  Victoria,  and  superscribed  "  His  favourite 
flower."  This  gave  rise  to  the  formation  of  the 
Primrose  League  and  the  annual  decoration  of  the 
Beaconsfield  Statue  at  Westminster  with  a  wreath  of 
primroses  on  this  day. 

Prince  of  Wales's  Feathers.     See  "Plume  and  Feathers." 

Prince  of  Wales  Island.  Named  in  compliment  to  the 
Prince  Regent,  afterwards  George  IV. 

Princes  Street.  Laid  out  on  the  site  of  the  old  Westminster 
Mews,  and  so  named  on  account  of  its  proximity  to 
King  Street. 

Printer's  Devil.  When  Caxton  introduced  printing  into 
England  many  people  regarded  it  as  an  invention  of 
the  devil.  This  idea  was  also  fostered  by  his  boys, 
whose  hands  and  faces  were  besmeared  with  ink.  They 
were  accordingly  called  "  Imps  "  and  "  Devils."  Since 
his  day  the  boys  engaged  in  feeding  the  printing  press 
have  not  improved  in  their  personal  appearance. 
Young  devils  they  are,  and  young  devils  they  will 
remain  until  the  end  of  time. 

Printing  House  Square.  This,  the  courtyard  of  The  Times 
office,  was  formerly  covered  by  the  King's  Printing 
House,  where  King  James's  Bible  was  printed,  and 
which  for  centuries  had  the  monopoly  of  turning  out 
Bibles  for  the  people. 


288  Priory— Pymmes  Park 

Priory.  This  term  denoted  a  lesser  house  or  branch 
establishment  of  an  abbey,  under  the  control  of  a 
Prior  or  Prioress,  who  had  the  prior  claim  to  election 
as  Abbot  or  Abbess  of  the  mother  community. 

Private  Boxes.  The  idea  of  these  adjuncts  to  a  theatre 
auditorium  was  derived  from  Spain,  where  plays  were 
formerly  performed  in  a  public  square,  the  ordinary 
spectators  being  accommodated  on  the  ground,  while 
the  grandees  looked  on  from  the  windows  of  the 
houses. 

Privy.     See  "  Petty." 

Pro- Cathedral.  The  beautiful  Catholic  Church  in  High 
Street,  Kensington,  erected  as  a  provisional  cathedral 
at  the  time  when  the  present  Westminster  Cathedral 
was  first  mooted. 

Profile.  The  outline  of  a  side  view,  so  called  from  the 
Italian  profilo,  and  Latin  filum,  a  thread. 

Protectionist.  One  who  advocates  the  protection  of  home 
industries  by  levying  imposts  on  foreign  merchandise. 

Protestants.  Those  who,  with  the  Lutherans  of  Germany, 
protested  against  the  decree  of  the  Emperor  Charles  V. 
This  decree  was  ostensibly  to  invoke  the  aid  of  the 
German  princes  against  the  Turks,  but  really  to  restore 
peace  and  order  after  the  disturbances  caused  by 
Martin  Luther's  opposition  to  the  Church  of  Rome. 
From  this  protest  the  Reformers  received  the  name 
of  "Protestants." 

Prussia.  A  Western  corruption  of  Porussia,  which  ex- 
presses the  Slavonic  for  "  near  Russia." 

Prussian   Blue.     After  its   inventor,  Diesbach   of  Berlin, 

in  1 710. 
Prussic  Acid.     Originally  the  acid  of  "  Prussian  Blue,"  but 

nowadays  obtained  from  cyanide  of  iron. 

Pye  Street  (Old  and  New).     See  "  New  Way." 

Pymmes  Park.  This  new  suburban  "lung"  at  Edmonton 
comprised  the  grounds  in  connection  with  the  lordly 


Pythagoreans — Pull  up  Stakes     289 

mansion  built  by  William  Pymme,  which  was  mentioned 
in  1593  as  the  residence  of  the  great  Lord  Burleigh, 
and  in  1612  as  that  of  Robert  Cecil,  Earl  of  Salisbury. 

Pythagoreans.  The  school  of  philosophy  founded  by 
Pythagoras. 

Public-house.  A  house  of  public  resort  for  refreshment 
and  conviviality.  It  may  be  either  an  inn  or  a  tavern 
in  the  modern  sense. 

Pudding.  From  Stow's  description  of  "  Pudding  Lane  "  it 
would  seem  that  the  puddings  of  his  day  were  scarcely 
edible  productions.  The  word  is  derived  from  the 
Celtic  poten>  a  bag,  and  was  applied  originally  in  the 
sense  of  a  modern  hog's  pudding  or  black  pudding — to 
wit,  a  sausage. 

Pudding  Lane.  Whether  or  not  the  Great  Fire  of  London 
broke  out  in  the  house  of  the  King's  baker,  as  generally 
stated,  the  lane  did  not  receive  its  name  from  the 
royal  bakery.  Old  Stow  tells  us  it  was  so  called 
"  because  the  butchers  of  Eastcheap  have  their  scald- 
ing-house for  hogs  there,  and  their  puddings  with  other 
filth  of  beasts  are  voided  down  that  way  to  their  dung 
boats  on  the  Thames." 

Pudding-time.  The  old  name  for  "dinner-time,"  because, 
as  still  is  the  custom  in  some  parts  of  the  country,  the 
pudding  was  served  before  the  meat. 

Pueblo  Indian.  One  who  in  the  western  states  has  been 
brought  under  Catholic  influences,  and  lives  in  a  village, 
where  he  subsists  by  agriculture.  The  word  Pueblo  is 
Spanish  for  village. 

Pukes.  A  corruption  of  Pikes,  generally  applied  to  the 
natives  of  Missouri,  who  originally  settled  in  Pike 
County  of  that  state. 

Pullman  Car.     After  its  inventor,  Pullman  of  Chicago. 

Pull  up  Stakes.     An  Americanism  for  to  pack  up  one's 
belongings   and   remove   elsewhere.     The    expression 
has,  of  course,  reference  to  dismantling  a  tent  among 
a  mining  community. 
T 


290  Pumps — Purse  Strings 

Pumps.  Dancing  shoes  bear  this  name  in  allusion  to 
the  fashionable  assemblies  in  the  pump-room  at  the 
Western  Spas  when  Beau  Nash,  styled  "  King  of  Bath," 
presided  over  the  ceremonies. 

Punch.  From  the  Hindoo  panch,  five,  this  beverage 
being  composed  of  five  ingredients  :  spirit,  sugar, 
lemon  juice,  spice,  and  water. 

Punch  and  Judy.  A  hybrid  form  of  entertainment  evolved 
out  of  an  old  mystery  play,  Pontius  cum  Judazis 
("Pontius  Pilate  and  the  Jews"). 

Punic  Wars.  Those  waged  between  Rome  and  Carthage. 
By  the  Romans  the  Carthaginians  were  called  the 
Punt,  a  corruption  of  Phceni,  in  allusion  to  their 
descent  from  the  Phoenicians. 

Punitive  Expedition.  A  petty  war  with  the  set  purpose  of 
inflicting  a  well-merited  punishment  upon  a  rebellious 
tribe.  The  word  "  punitive  "  is  derived  from  the  Latin 
poena,  penalty. 

Punjab.      Expresses  the  Persian  for  "  five  rivers." 

Punkah.     From  the  Hindoo  pankha,  a  fan. 

Puritans.  Those  who  affected  a  greater  degree  of  holiness 
or  purity  than  their  neighbours.  They  were  to  the 
Anglicans  and  Roman  Catholics  of  the  time  of  Charles 
I.  and  the  Commonwealth  what  the  Pharisees  were  to 
the  Jews. 

Purple.  This  dye,  in  which  the  people  of  Tyre  excelled, 
was  discovered  in  the  following  manner  : — One  day  a 
favourite  dog  of  Hercules  of  Tyre  ate  a  species  offish 
known  to  the  ancients  by  the  name  of  purpura,  and 
on  returning  to  his  master  his  lips  were  found  to  be 
tinged  with  the  colour,  which,  after  a  few  experiments, 
Hercules  successfully  imitated. 

Purse  Strings.  In  the  days  of  our  grandfathers,  when  hasp 
and  clasp  purses  were  unknown,  the  only  kind  of  purse 
was  a  small  money  bag  secured  round  its  mouth  by  a 
tape  or  string.     To  "  tighten  one's  purse  strings  "  was 


Putney— Quarantine  291 

therefore   to   be  proof  against  almsgiving  or  money- 
lending. 

Putney.     Described  in  ancient  documents  as  Puttaney^  or 
"  Putta's  Isle." 


Quack.  The  name  borne  by  an  itinerant  trader,  who  makes 
a  great  noise  in  open  market,  quacking  like  a  duck  in 
his  efforts  to  dispose  of  wares  that  are  not  genuine; 
hence  anyone  nowadays  who  follows  a  profession 
which  he  does  not  rightly  understand.  A  "Quack 
Doctor  "  was  formerly  styled  a  Quack  Salver^  from  the 
salves,  lotions,  and  medicines  he  dispensed  to  the 
crowd  at  the  street  corners. 

Quadragesima  Sunday.  The  first  Sunday  of  Lent,  express- 
ing in  round  numbers  forty  days  before  Easter. 

Quadrant.  The  Piccadilly  end  of  Regent  Street,  so  called 
because  it  describes  a  quarter  of  a  circle. 

Quadrille.  Expresses  the  French  for  "a  little  square,"  in 
allusion  to  the  positions  taken  up  by  the  dancers. 

Quadroon.  A  Mulatto  being  half-blooded,  like  a  mule,  the 
offspring  of  such  a  woman  by  a  white  man  is  black- 
blooded  to  the  degree  of  one-fourth. 

Quaker  City.  Philadelphia,  the  seat  of  the  Quaker  colony 
founded  by  William  Penn. 

Quaker  Poet.     The  sobriquet  of  Bernard  Barton. 

Quakers.  The  origin  of  this  designation  of  the  "  Society 
of  Friends  "  is  thus  given  by  George  Fox,  the  founder 
of  the  sect  in  his  Journal-.  "  Justice  Bennet  of  Derby 
was  the  first  to  call  us  ■  Quakers,'  because  I  bade  him 
quake  and  tremble  at  the  word  of  the  Lord."  This 
occurred  in  1650. 

Quarantine.  Agreeably  to  the  French  quarantaine,  the 
period  of  a  ship's  detention  outside  a  port  in  the 
circumstances  of  infectious  disease  should  be  forty 
days. 


292    Quarter  Sessions— Queen  City 

Quarter  Sessions.     See  "Petty  Sessions." 

Quarto.  In  the  printing  and  stationery  trades  this  term 
expresses  a  sheet  of  paper  which,  when  folded  into 
quarters,  makes  four  leaves  or  eight  pages. 

Quassia.  A  tonic  obtained  from  the  bark  of  a  tree  of 
South  America,  the  virtues  of  which  were  discovered 
by  a  Negro  of  this  name. 

Quatemala.  When  the  Indians  who  accompanied 
Alvarado  into  this  region  discovered  the  ruins  of 
an  ancient  palace  of  the  kings  beside  an  old  worm- 
eaten  tree  they  assumed  this  to  be  the  centre  of  the 
country,  and  gave  it  the  name  of  Quahtemali,  "a 
decayed  log  of  wood." 

Quebec.     Indian  for  "take  care  of  the  rock." 

Queen  Anne's  Bounty.  A  perpetual  fund  raised  by  the 
augmentation  of  the  tithes  and  first-fruits  at  the 
instance  of  Queen  Anne  for  the  benefit  of  the  poor 
clergy  whose  incomes  are  insufficient  for  their  proper 
maintenance. 

Queen  Anne's  Square.  Like  the  gate  and  the  street 
further  west  of  the  same  name,  this  was  built  during 
the  reign  of  Queen  Anne. 

Queen  Charlotte  Island.  In  honour  of  Queen  Charlotte, 
the  consort  of  George  III. 

Queen  City  of  the  Lakes.  Buffalo,  in  the  state  of  New 
York,  situated  at  the  junction  of  the  Erie  Canal  with 
Lake  Erie. 

Queen  City  of  the  Mountains.  Knoxville  (Tennessee), 
admirably  situated  on  the  hills  overlooking  the  Upper 
Tennessee  River. 

Queen  City  of  the  Plains.  Regina,  in  the  north-western 
territory. 

Queen  City  of  the  West.  Cincinnati  (Ohio),  so  called  in 
virtue  of  its  fine  situation,  beautiful  parks,  and  noble 
architectural  features.  Also  styled  "  The  Queen  City  " 
and  "  Queen  of  the  West." 


Queen  Elizabeth— Queen's  Pipe    293 

Queen  Elizabeth's  Walk.  In  compliment  to  Queen 
Elizabeth,  who  often  visited  the  Earl  of  Leicester  when 
he  resided  in  this  portion  of  Stoke  Newington. 

Queenhithe.  So  called  because  the  tolls  collected  at  this 
htthet  or  wharf,  were  appropriated  by  Eleanor,  Queen  of 
Henry  II.,  for  her  pin  money. 

Queen  of  Hearts.  Elizabeth,  Queen  of  Bohemia,  the 
daughter  of  James  I.,  who  by  her  amiable  disposition 
endeared  herself  to  all  hearts. 

Queen   of  Watering-places.     Scarborough. 

Queen's  College.  At  Oxford,  founded  by  Robert  de 
Eglesfield,  the  confessor  of  Philippa,  queen  of 
Edward  III.,  in  her  honour.  At  Cambridge,  founded 
by  Margaret  of  Anjou,  queen  of  Henry  VI. 

Queen's  Hall.  Built  on  the  site  of  the  Langham  Hall, 
and  opened  in  1893,  this  high-class  concert  hall  was 
named  after  the  late  Queen  Victoria. 

Queen's  Head  Street.  From  the  ancient  inn,  "The 
Queen's  Head,"  now  modernised,  at  its  juncture  with 
Essex  Road.  Queen  Elizabeth  is  said  to  have  slept  at 
this  hostelry  on  several  occasions. 

Queensland.  This  portion  of  Australia  received  its  name 
in  honour  of  Queen  Victoria,  when  in  1859  it  became 
an  independent  colony. 

Queen's  Square.  After  Queen  Anne,  in  whose  reign  it 
was  laid  out. 

Queen  Street.  In  Cheapside,  from  a  permanent  wooden 
balcony  situated  between  Bow  Church  and  this  corner 
for  the  accommodation  of  the  reigning  queen  and  her 
ladies  when  jousts  and  tournaments  were  held  here. 
In  Mayfair,  after  the  queen  of  Charles  II.,  in  whose 
reign  it  was  built. 

Queen's  Tobacco  Pipe.  The  name  given  to  the  furnace 
at  the  London  Docks  where  contraband  tobacco  was 
formerly  consumed.  This  custom  obtained  down  to 
within  the  last  few  years  of  the  reign  of  Queen 
Victoria. 


294        Queenstown — Quill-Driver 

Queenstown.  Originally  styled  "The  Cove  of  Cork,"  this 
Irish  seaport  received  its  present  name  on  the  occasion 
of  the  visit  of  Queen  Victoria  in  1850. 

Queen's  Weather.  Throughout  the  long  reign  of  the  late 
Queen  Victoria  it  was  remarkable  that,  whenever  she 
appeared  abroad  on  the  occasion  of  a  public  function, 
glorious  weather  favoured  her  invariably;  hence  the 
expression  "  Queen's  Weather  "  came  to  be  applied  to 
a  fine  day  for  a  summer  outing. 

Queen  Victoria  Street.  A  modern  thoroughfare,  named 
after  the  late  Queen  Victoria. 

Queue.  Expresses  the  French  for  a  tail,  like  that  of  a 
periwig  or  peruke.  In  the  sense  of  a  line  of  people 
waiting  outside  the  doors  of  a  theatre  the  term  has 
latterly  become  popular  on  both  sides  of  the  English 
Channel. 

Quick  Lunch.  An  American  stand-up  luncheon  served 
with  expedition. 

Quicksilver.  Living  or  moving  silver.  Quick  is  old 
English  for  "living";  hence  "The  Quick  and  the 
Dead." 

Quidnunc.  One  who  is  always  inquiring  after  news. 
"What  news?"  is  the  literal  interpretation  of  the  term. 
As  a  personal  designation,  it  originated  in  the  name  of 
the  chief  character  in  Murphy's  farce,  "The  Up- 
holsterer, or  What  News  ?  A  kind  of  political 
Paul  Pry. 

Quid  of  Tobacco.  A  corruption  of  "Cud,"  because  it  is 
used  for  chewing.  The  allusion  is  to  the  cud  chewed 
by  ruminating  animals. 

Quids.  The  slang  term  for  cash,  properly  restricted  to 
gold.  A  sovereign  is  called  a  "  Quid  "  in  allusion  to 
the  Latin  phrase,  Quid  pro  quo,  something  of  equal 
value,  which  change  for  a  sovereign  truly  is. 

Quill-driver.  The  popular  designation  of  a  clerk.  Quill 
pens  having  been  supplanted  by  those  of  steel,  it  is 
scarcely  appropriate  in  our  time. 


Quinquagesima  Sunday— Radnor    295 

Quinquagesima  Sunday.  The  name  given  in  the  Church 
calendar  to  the  Sunday  preceding  Ash  Wednesday  or 
the  commencement  of  Lent ;  approximately  fifty  days 
before  Easter. 

Quit  Rent.  A  rental  anciently  paid  by  a  tenant  to  a 
baron  with  a  view  of  being  relieved  or  quit  of  feudal 
service. 

Quod.  The  slang  term  for  prison;  also  "Quad."  See 
"In  Quad." 


R 

Rabbi.  The  title  of  a  Jewish  expounder  of  the  Law.  The 
word  is  Greek  for  "  My  Master,"  through  the  Hebrew 
rabi,  from  the  root  rab,  lord,  chief. 

Rack.  From  the  Saxon  wrocan  and  German  reckeny  to 
stretch.  The  word  is  therefore  correctly  applied  to 
the  instrument  of  torture  of  former  days. 

Rack  Rent.  A  term  expressing  the  actual  full  annual  value 
of  land  as  paid  from  the  earliest  times,  not  modified 
by  circumstances.     See  "  Rack." 

Radcliffe  Library.  Founded  at  Oxford  by  the  celebrated 
physician,  Dr  John  Radcliffe,  in  Radcliffe  Square,  also 
named  after  him. 

Radicals.  That  advanced  section  of  the  Liberal  party, 
whose  set  purpose  it  is  to  root  out  the  evils,  according 
to  their  view,  of  our  constitutional  system  which  are 
systematically  maintained  by  the  Conservatives.  The 
term  first  came  into  notice  in  1818,  when  a  strenuous 
effort  was  made  to  institute  a  radical  change  in  the 
Parliamentary  representation  of  the  country.  This 
paved  the  way  for  the  Reform  Act  of  1832. 

Radnor.  The  modern  form  of  Rhiadnwr-Gwy,  signifying 
"  The  Cataract  of  the  Wye."  This  is  in  reference  to  the 
beautiful  cascade,  with  a  fall  of  seventy  feet,  called 
"  The  Water-break-its-Neck,"  the  great  natural  feature 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  county  town. 


296  Rag— Rag  Time 

Rag.  Theatrical  slang  for  the  curtain,  having  originally 
reference  to  the  green  baize.  Also  military  slang  for 
the  national  flag,  and  the  members'  colloquial  term  for 
the  Army  and  Navy  Club. 

Rag  Fair.  The  name  given  to  the  old  clothes  mart  in 
Petticoat  Lane,  now  Middlesex  Street,  Aldgate,  on 
Sunday  mornings. 

Ragged  Regiment.  Dilapidated  waxen  effigies  of  several 
English  monarchs  and  persons  of  note  that  were  borne 
through  the  streets  at  the  obsequies  of  the  subjects 
represented.  They  are  located  in  Islip's  Chapel, 
Westminster  Abbey. 

Ragging.  In  military  parlance  this  word  expresses  the 
system  of  persecution  by  which  an  unpopular  man 
suffers  indignities  at  the  hands  of  his  comrades.  It 
has  the  same  meaning  as  the  North  Country  "  Rag," 
to  enrage  or  make  angry,  and  "  Bullyrag,"  to  administer 
a  severe  scolding.  The  latter,  however,  of  which  the 
former  is  an  abbreviation,  has  not  been  derived  from 
the  Dutch  bulderen,  to  scold  or  bully,  as  is  generally 
supposed,  but  from  the  custom  of  the  Spanish  bull- 
fighters of  waving  a  red  cloak  in  front  of  the  bull  in 
order  to  excite  him  to  fury.  This  is  the  rag  referred 
to.  The  corresponding  United  States  term  for 
"ragging"  is  "Hazing." 

Rag   Money.     American  slang  for  paper  money. 

Rag  Time.  An  Americanism  for  a  dancing  frolic  of  the 
"go-as-you-please"  order,  in  which  musical  time  and 
rhythm  are,  as  it  were,  torn  into  shreds  j  a  ragged,  loose, 
disconnected,  unconventional  time.  The  term  has 
been  well  explained  by  an  authoritative  writer  in  The 
Referee  as  follows : — "  Rag  time  is  the  outcome  of 
1  Rag  Speech,'  a  speech  that  casts  tradition,  balance, 
beauty,  elegance,  and  refinement  to  the  winds,  and 
that  believes  that  more  effect  can  be  made  by  punch- 
ing certain  syllables  into  the  brain  of  the  listener. 
Technically  speaking,  'Rag  Time'  shifts  the  strong 
accent  from  the  first  to  the  second  beat  of  the  bar. 
Against  this  there  is  a   cross-rhythm  with  a  kind  of 


Railroad  City — Ram  and  Teazle     297 

halting  contrapuntal  ornamentation  in  the  accompani- 
ment, which  sometimes  brings  a  stress  on  to  the  fourth 
beat  of  the  bar.  The  result  of  this  irregularity  and 
false  quantity  is  to  destroy  the  rhythm  to  an  extent  that 
often  makes  it  difficult  to  say  whether  the  music  is  in 
duple  or  triple  measure.  The  musical  consequence  is 
the  breaking  down  of  symmetrical  form,  and  the 
tendency  is  to  reduce  the  organised  structure  to  its 
component  parts." 

Railroad  City.  Indianapolis,  a  junction  of  the  great  trunk 
lines. 

Railway  King.  The  sobriquet  of  George  Hudson,  Chair- 
man of  the  Midland  Railway  Company,  who  amassed 
a  huge  fortune  by  successful  speculations  in  the  early 
days  of  railway  enterprise. 

Rains  Cats  and  Dogs.  This  expression  is  traceable  to 
two  distinct  sources  —  popular  superstition  and 
Scandinavian  mythology.  Witches  who  rode  the 
storm  on  broomsticks  were  believed  to  have  the  power 
of  transforming  themselves  into  cats  at  will,  while  the 
dog  or  wolf  is  represented  as  the  attendant  of  Odin, 
the  Storm  King  of  the  northern  nations. 

Rainy  Day  Smith.  John  Thomas  Smith,  the  antiquary, 
whose  chatty  volume,  "A  Book  for  a  Rainy  Day," 
brought  him  more  money  and  reputation  than  all  his 
other  works  put  together. 

Raise  your  Screw.  This  expression  arose  out  of  the 
custom  of  masters  paying  their  employees'  wages 
screwed  up  in  a  tiny  paper  of  uniform  size.  The 
more  money  it  contained  the  less  tightly  the  paper 
could  be  screwed ;  hence  an  advance  of  wages  im- 
plied metaphorically  giving  the  screw  one  turn  back- 
wards. 

Rake  the  Pot.  An  American  gambling  phrase  meaning 
to  seize  the  stakes. 

Ram  and  Teazle.  A  tavern  sign  common  to  the  woollen 
manufacturing  districts,  this  being  the  device  of  the 
Clothworkers'  Company. 


298  Ranch— Rat  Hole 

Ranch.  From  the  Spanish  ra?tchoi  a  hut  of  posts,  covered 
with  branches  or  thatch,  in  which  herdsman  or  farm 
labourers  in  the  western  states  of  North  America 
lodge  by  night. 

Rand.  Expresses  the  Dutch,  specifically  in  South  Africa, 
for  a  mining  district. 

Ranelagh  Gardens.  This  fashionable  public  resort,  now 
built  over,  occupied  the  site  of  Ranelagh  House  and 
its  grounds,  owned  by  an  Irish  peer,  whose  title  it  bore. 

Ranters.     Another  name  for  the  "Primitive  Methodists." 

Rape.  The  name  given  to  a  division  under  the  Danes 
of  the  county  of  Sussex,  from  the  Norse  repp,  a 
district. 

Rapier.  This  species  of  sword  being  eminently  adapted 
for  rapid  thrusting  and  withdrawing,  its  name,  from 
the  Latin  rapere,  to  snatch  away,  is  appropriate. 

Rappahannock.     Indian  for  "quick-rising  waters." 

Rapparee.  The  name  given  to  an  Irish  plunderer,  because 
he  was  armed  with  a  rapera,  or  half  pike. 

Rascal.  From  the  French  racaille,  "the  scum  of  the 
people." 

Ratcliff  Highway.  Originally  a  manor  belonging  to  the 
parish  of  Stepney,  this  highway  for  sailors  ashore, 
where  they  found  lodgings  and  entertainment  of  a  low 
class  in  days  prior  to  the  provision  of  "Seamen's 
Homes,"  received  its  name  from  the  multitudes  of 
water  rats  that  congregated  on  the  Thames  wall  by 
night.  On  account  of  the  evil  reputation  which  this 
neighbourhood  bore  in  former  days,  its  name  was 
changed  to  "St  George's  in  the  East." 

Rathbone  Place.  After  Captain  Rathbone,  its  builder, 
in  1718. 

Rat  Hole.  A  printers'  term  for  a  non-society  house. 
Since  rats  are  known  to  desert  a  sinking  ship,  so  a 
journeyman  who  refuses  to  take  advantage  of  a  trades 
union  is  stigmatised  as  a  "  Rat,"  because  he  forsakes 


Rationalism — Rector  299 

the  general  cause  of  his  craft.  Hence  also  the  term 
"  Rattening,"  by  which  is  meant  the  taking  away  of  or 
destroying  a  workman's  tools  consequent  upon  his 
desertion  of  the  union  or  accepting  work  in  a  house 
opposed  to  its  principles. 

Rationalism.  The  kind  of  religion  (if  it  deserved  such 
a  name)  set  up  during  the  French  Revolution,  when 
Reason  took  the  place  of  Faith.  The  worship  of  the 
"  Goddess  of  Reason,"  in  the  person  of  an  actress 
installed  in  the  Cathedral  of  Notre  Dame,  was  a  fitting 
illustration  of  the  unreasoning  tenet  that  public  worship 
was  opposed  to  the  natural  instincts  of  mankind. 

Rattening.     See  "Rat  Hole." 

Ray  Street.  After  the  victim  of  an  old-time  Clerkenwell 
sensation,  Miss  Ray,  who,  on  becoming  the  mistress 
of  Lord  Sandwich,  was  shot  by  her  jilted  lover, 
Hackman. 

Ready.  Short  for  ready  money,  cash  always  on  hand, 
in  readiness  for  emergencies. 

Rechabites.  The  name  borne  by  total  abstainers  in  the 
United  States,  after  the  followers  of  Jonadab,  the  son 
of  Rechab,  who  lived  in  tents  and  abstained  from  the 
use  of  wine. 

Reckon  without  your  Host.  When  putting  up  at  an  inn 
the  cost  is  often  greater  than  the  traveller  anticipates ; 
therefore  it  is  always  wise  to  be  well  prepared  with 
funds,  lest,  when  the  host  presents  his  bill,  discom- 
fiture may  arise. 

Recluse.  From  the  Latin  rec/usus,  shut  up;  one  who 
voluntarily  cuts  himself  off  from  communion  with  his 
fellow-men,  a  solitary. 

Rector.  A  clergyman  who  enjoys  a  living  in  his  own 
right,  as  distinguished  from  a  "Vicar,"  who  holds  the 
appointment  at  the  pleasure  of  the  Lord  of  the  Manor. 
The  former  also  receives  the  tithes  direct,  whereas 
the  latter  passes  them  on  to  a  layman,  a  college,  or 


300  Red  Cent — Red  Rose 

a  chapter,  by  whom  he  is  paid  a  proportion  thereout 
as  a  stipend. 
Eed   Cent.     An  Americanism  for  a  copper  coin. 

Redcross  Street.  From  the  red  stone  cross  anciently  set 
up  by  the  Knights  Hospitallers  to  define  the  limits 
of  the  land  belonging  to  them  in  the  direction  adjacent 
to  that  of  the  Knights  Templars,  indicated  by  a  white 
cross  of  stone  in  what  is  now  "  Whitecross  Street." 

Red  Dragon.  An  inn  sign,  complimenting  Henry  VII., 
whose  device  it  was. 

Redemptorists.  Also  called  "Redemptorist  Fathers."  See 
"Liguorians." 

Red  Eye.  The  Far  West  term  for  fiery  new  whisky,  which 
is  well  calculated  to  make  the  eyes  of  the  toper  look 
red. 

Red-hot  Time.  An  Americanism  for  a  jolly  time,  because 
the  proceedings  were  conducted  with  the  utmost 
warmth. 

Red-Letter  Day.  A  phrase  used  to  express  a  pleasurable 
event  in  one's  past  life.  This  had  its  origin  in  the  old 
calendars  and  almanacks,  in  which  high  Church 
festivals  were  printed  in  red  ink,  and  all  the  other 
days  in  black. 

Red  Lion  Court.  After  an  ancient  tavern,  "The  Red 
Lion." 

Red  Lion  Square.  After  a  famous  old  coaching-house, 
"The  Red  Lion." 

Red  Republicans.  The  extreme  Republican  party  of  the 
French  Revolution,  which  adopted  the  red  cap,  the 
Roman  symbol  of  Liberty.  The  lower  orders  of  the 
people,  to  whom  the  cap  meant  everything,  were  like- 
wise only  too  ready  to  follow  the  behest  of  their  leaders, 
and  steep  their  hands  in  the  blood  of  the  aristocrats. 

Red  Skins.  The  name  first  given  by  the  white  settlers  to 
the  Indians  of  North  America. 

Red  Rose.  An  inn  sign,  in  compliment  to  the  Lancas- 
trians during  the  Wars  of  the  Roses. 


Red  Sea— Regius  Professor      301 

Red  Sea.  Three  reasons  are  assigned  for  the  name  of  this 
sea :  the  red  sandstone  which  forms  its  bottom,  the 
red  rocks  which  in  some  parts  border  its  shores,  and 
the  colouring  imparted  to  its  waters  by  coral  reefs, 
animaculae,  and  sea-weed. 

Red  Tape.  That  leisurely  officialism  which  refers  a  matter 
from  one  department  to  another,  until  at  length  the 
highest  authority  is  reached  to  take  it  in  hand.  The 
term  has  been  derived  from  the  red  tape  with  which 
all  legal  and  official  documents  are  tied  together. 

Reel.  A  whirling  dance  by  a  single  person,  peculiar  to 
the  Scots,  so  called  in  allusion  to  the  winding  of 
cotton  on  a  reel. 

Reformed  Presbytery.     See  "  Macmillanites." 

Reform  School.  An  Americanism  for  an  institution  for 
the  reformation  of  juvenile  offenders. 

Refresher.  The  legal  term  for  an  extra  fee  paid  to  a 
barrister  by  a  client  while  the  latter's  case  is  pending, 
in  order  to  refresh  the  former's  memory  concerning 
the  interests  at  stake. 

Regent  Diamond.      See  "Pitt  Diamond." 

Regent's  Park.  Part  of  the  general  scheme  of  John  Nash, 
the  royal  architect,  when  he  projected  the  building  of 
Regent  Street,  was  to  provide  a  magnificent  palace  for 
his  patron,  the  Prince  Regent,  in  the  park  named  after 
him.  This  was  not  realised,  and  the  site  of  the 
intended  palace  was  appropriated  to  the  Zoological 
Gardens. 

Regent  Street.  In  honour  of  the  Prince  Regent,  after- 
wards George  IV. 

Regiomontanus.  The  name  assumed  by  Johann  Miiller, 
a  celebrated  German  mathematician  of  the  fifteenth 
century,  being  a  Latinised  rendering  of  "  Konigsberg," 
his  native  place. 

Regius  Professor.  The  professorial  chair  in  various 
departments  of  learning  at  Oxford  and  Cambridge 
Universities  founded  by  Henry  VIII. 


302  Regular  Brick — Rhodes 

Regular  Brick.     See  "  He's  a  Brick." 

Regular  Clergy.  Those  who  in  the  Catholic  Church  are 
attached  to  monasteries  and  friaries,  living  by  rule; 
in  contradistinction  to  the  "  Secular  Clergy,"  who  are 
appointed  to  parochial  work  by  a  bishop,  and  move 
among  the  people. 

Regular  Zantippe.     See  "Zantippe." 

Rehan.     See  "Ada  Rehan." 

Rendezvous.  Literally  an  individual  haunt  or  resort,  and 
in  no  sense  a  place  of  public  meeting.  The  word  is 
French  for  "  betake  yourself." 

Republican  Marriage.  The  name  given  by  the  Red 
Republicans  during  the  French  Revolution  to  their 
atrocious  procedure,  instigated  by  Jean  Baptiste 
Carrier,  of  tying  a  young  man  and  woman  together 
and  drowning  them. 

Resurrection  Men.  Body  snatchers,  who  "resurrected,"  as 
the  Americans  say,  bodies  from  the  graves  in  order  to 
sell  them  to  the  medical  faculty  for  dissection.  Since 
the  general  institution  of  public  hospitals,  the  last 
refuge  of  so  many  "unknowns,"  whose  dead  bodies 
are  never  claimed,  the  demand  for  subjects  snatched 
from  the  grave  has  entirely  ceased. 

Revolver.  The  modern  type  of  pistol,  in  which  the  breach 
which  contains  the  cartridges  revolves.  In  the  earlier 
stage  of  this  invention  it  was  the  barrel  that  revolved. 

Rheims.  The  capital  of  the  Remit  a  Gallic  people  referred 
to  by  Caesar. 

Rhine.  From  the  Celtic  rhe,  "rapid."  This  name  was 
given  by  the  Swiss  to  rivers  generally. 

Rhinoceros.     Greek  for  "nose-horned." 

Rhode  Island.  A  corruption  of  "rood,"  red,  the  name 
given  to  it  by  the  Dutch  settlers  on  account  of  its 
reddish  appearance. 

Rhodes.  From  the  Greek  rhodon,  a  rose;  expresses  "the 
isle  of  roses." 


Rhododendron— Rile  303 

Rhododendron.     From  the  two  Greek  words  rhodon,  rose, 

and  dendron,  tree. 
Rhody.     The  American  designation  of  Rhode  Island  on 

account    of   its    limited    area;    also   called    "Little 

Rhody." 

Rhone.     Derived  from  the  same  root  as  "  Rhine." 

Ribbonmen.  The  name  borne  by  the  members  of  a 
Catholic  political  association  in  Ireland  early  in  the 
last  century  on  account  of  the  distinctive  badge  or 
ribbon  worn  in  the  button-hole.  The  Ribbonmen  were 
violently  opposed  to  the  "Orangemen." 

Ribston  Pippins.  The  name  given  to  a  fine  species  of 
Normandy  apple  grown  at  Ribstone,  Yorkshire,  from 
pips  originally  planted  on  his  estate  by  Sir  Henry 
Goodriche. 

Richmond.  When  Edward  I.  built  himself  a  sumptuous 
palace  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Thames  he  gave  it 
the  name  of  Sheen,  the  Saxon  for  "  resplendent." 
This  being  consumed  by  fire  in  1479,  Henry  VI.,  rebuilt 
it,  and  then  called  it  Richmond,  after  the  beautiful  seat 
in  Yorkshire  whence  he  took  the  title  of  his  earldom. 
Richmond  signifies  a  rich  prospect  from  the  hill  occu- 
pied by  its  ancient  castle. 

Riding.  A  Danish  division  of  the  county  of  Yorkshire 
corresponding  to  the  Lincolnshire  Trithing,  of  which 
it  is  a  corruption,  signifying  a  third  part. 

Riff-raff.  Expresses  the  Anglo-Saxon,  from  the  Danish 
rip-raps,  for  "sweepings";  hence  the  scum  of  society. 

Right  off  the  Reel.  To  do  a  thing  without  stopping  until 
it  is  finished.  The  allusion  is  to  unwinding  the  entire 
length  of  cotton  off  a  reel  or  bobbin. 

Right  Foot  Foremost.  A  phrase  derived  from  the  old 
Roman  superstition  that  if  a  visitor  crossed  the  thres- 
hold with  the  left  foot  foremost  he  would  be  certain  to 
bring  ill  luck  upon  the  household. 

Rile.  A  provincial  corruption  of  "Rail,"  to  anger  or 
tease. 


304  Ring — Robert  Street 

Ring.     A  professional  term  for  a  charmed  circle — e.g.  "  The 

Dramatic  Ring." 
Ring  him  up.     A  telephone  phrase,  really  borrowed  from 

the   theatrical    profession,    in   which   the    prompter's 

"  Ring  up"  and  "  Ring  down  " — i.e.  the  curtain — have 

obtained  favour  since  the  "  Palmy  Days  of  the  Drama." 
Rink.     An   American  variant  of   "Ring."     In   the  sense 

of  a  skating  rink  the   term   has   become   popular  in 

England. 
Rio  de  Janeiro.     This  city  takes  its  name  from  the  river 

discovered  by  Alfonso  de  Sousa  on  the  Feast  of  St 

Januarius,  on  which  it  stands. 

Rio  de  la  Plata.     Spanish  for  "  river  of  silver." 

Rio  Grande.     Spanish  for  "  great  river." 

Rip.     A  corruption  of  "  Rep."    See  "  Old  Rep." 

Ritualists.  The  extreme  High  Church  party,  who  for 
many  years  past  have  revived  the  ancient  ritual  to 
such  a  degree  that  they  may  be  said  to  be  Roman 
Catholics  in  everything  save  in  name. 

Riviera.     Literally  "coast,"  "sea-shore." 

Robbing  Peter  to  Pay  Paul.  An  expression  derived  from 
the  following  circumstance  : — By  Royal  Letters  Patent, 
dated  17th  December  1540,  the  abbey  church  of  St 
Peter,  Westminster,  was  constituted  a  cathedral,  with  a 
resident  bishop.  Ten  years  afterwards  this  order  was 
revoked,  the  diocese  of  Westminster  being  united  to 
that  of  St  Paul's  Cathedral,  and  its  revenues  were 
granted  towards  the  repairs  of  the  city  fane;  hence 
what  was  taken  away  from  St  Peter's  went  to  benefit 
St  Paul's. 

Robert.  The  generic  name  for  a  policeman,  after  Sir 
Robert  Peel,  who  introduced  the  modern  constabulary 
system. 

Robert  Street.  In  the  Adelphi,  after  the  Christian  name  of 
one  of  the  three  brothers  Adam,  its  builders.  In 
Camden  Town,  after  one  of  the  family  names  of  the 
Marquis  of  Camden,  the  ground  landlord. 


Robert  the  Devil — Roger  de  Coverley  305 

Robert  the  Devil.  The  surname  of  the  first  Duke  of 
Normandy,  the  father  of  William  the  Conqueror, 
merited  by  his  outrageous  cruelty  and  daring  in  war. 

Robin  Hood.  The  proper  name  of  this  renowned  leader 
of  the  Sherwood  Foresters  was  Robert  Fitzooth.  The 
first  he  euphonised  into  Robin  and  the  second  into 
Hood,  leaving  out  the  Fitz,  which  is  Norman  for  "  son," 
altogether,  since  having  been  declared  an  outlaw,  he 
was  not  unwilling  to  renounce  his  claims  to  Norman 
descent.  Whether  or  not  he  was  really  Earl  of  Hunt- 
ingdon, as  some  historians  assert,  cannot  be  proved. 

Robinson.  The  French  popular  name  for  an  umbrella,  in 
allusion  to  Robinson  Crusoe. 

Rob  Roy.  The  popular  name  of  the  Scottish  outlaw 
Robert  Macgregor,  meaning  simply  "  Robert  the 
Red"  on  account  of  his  beard. 

Rochester.  From  Hrofoceaster,  after  Hrop,  a  Saxon  chief- 
tain, who  built  a  castle  on  the  site  of  a  castra,  or  Roman 
encampment. 

Rochester  Row.  A  name  which  recalls  the  fact  that,  prior 
to  the  time  of  George  III.,  the  Deanery  of  Westminster 
was  included  in  the  Bishopric  of  Rochester. 

Rock  Day.  Another  ancient  name  for  "  Distaffs'  Day," 
7th  January,  the  word  rock  being  the  Anglo-Saxon  for 
a  distaff. 

Rogation  Days.  So  called  from  the  Latin  rogare,  to  beseech, 
and  also  from  the  Greek  /itaneia,  supplication.  These 
being  the  three  days  preceding  the  Feast  of  the  Ascen- 
sion, the  Litany  of  the  Saints  is  chanted  by  way  of 
preparation  and  supplication  for  the  joyful  event. 

Rogation  Sunday.  That  which  ushers  in  the  "Rogation 
Days." 

Roger  de  Coverley.  The  correct  description  of  this  sur- 
name is  Roger  de  Cowley,  or  Roger  of  Cowley,  near 
Oxford.  The  dance  of  this  name  was  invented  by  an 
ancestor  of  the  country  squire,  Sir  Roger  de  Coverley, 
mentioned  by  Addison  in  The  Spectator. 
u 


306    Rogues'  Gallery — Romney  Street 

Bogues'  Gallery.  The  name  given  to  the  collection  of 
criminals' photographs  in  the  State  Prison  of  New  York. 

Roland  for  an  Oliver.  See  "  Gave  him  a  Roland  for  an 
Oliver." 

Roll  Call.  The  list  of  names  called  out  in  the  army.  The 
term  "Roll"  is  a  survival  of  those  far-off  days  when 
not  only  a  list,  but  writing  of  all  kinds,  was  set  forth  on 
one  long  roll  of  paper.  We  still  speak  of  a  "  Burgess 
Roll,"  while  to  belong  to  any  society  is  said  to  be 
"  enrolled  "  among  its  members ;  hence  also  the  phrase 
"  Roll  of  Honour." 

Rolls  Chapel.  This  ancient  edifice,  now  incorporated  in  the 
New  Record  Office,  was  built  by  Henry  III.  for  a 
number  of  Jewish  rabbis  who,  had  been  converted  to 
Christianity.  Into  it  Edward  III.  caused  all  the  ac- 
cumulated rolls  or  records  to  be  stored,  and  there  they 
remained  in  the  custody  of  the  Master  of  the  Rolls, 
until  in  more  modern  days  they  were  overhauled  and 
catalogued. 

Roman  Catholic  Church.  The  ancient  original  fold  of 
"The  Holy  Catholic  Church,"  which  acknowledges 
the  authority  of  the  Pope  of  Rome.  The  recognised 
head  of  the  English  Catholic  Church  is  the  King,  re- 
presented by  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  just  as 
that  of  "The  Greek  Catholic  Church"  in  Russia  is 
the  Czar,  represented  by  the  Metropolitan  of  St 
Petersburg. 

Rome.     After  Romulus,  its  mythical  founder. 

Romeo  Coates.  Robert  Coates  was  a  fashionable  amateur 
actor  during  the  early  part  of  the  last  century;  sur- 
named  Romeo  Coates  on  account  of  his  very  many 
appearances  in  the  character  of  the  ill-fated  hero  in 
Romeo  and  Juliet. 

Romford.  The  ford  over  the  Bourne,  anciently  called  the 
Rom,  this  being  the  Roman  highway  between  London 
and  Colchester. 

Romney  Street.  After  Charles  Marsham,  Earl  of  Romney, 
the  owner  of  the  estate. 


Rood  Lane — Rouge  et  Noir      307 

Rood  Lane.  From  an  ancient  holy  rood  or  cross,  on 
which  was  a  figure  of  the  dying  Saviour,  that  stood  in 
this  thoroughfare  as  a  boundary  mark  of  the  landed 
property  of  the  nuns  of  St  Helen's.  See  "Mincing 
Lane." 

Rosary.  A  string  of  beads,  and  also  the  prayers  said  in 
connection  therewith,  so  called  because  the  Virgin 
appeared  in  a  vision  to  St  Dominic,  who  instituted  this 
Catholic  devotion,  holding  out  to  him  a  garland  of  red 
and  white  roses.  The  ancient  rosaries,  or  "pater- 
nosters "  as  they  were  called,  bore  an  impression  of 
a  rose  on  each  bead. 

Rose.  An  inn  and  tavern  sign  which,  as  a  painted  device, 
red  or  white,  displayed  a  partisanship  for  the  Lan- 
castrians or  the  Yorkists.  After  the  union  of  the  two 
royal  houses  nothing  was  easier  to  quench  the  former 
partiality  for  either  the  red  or  white  rose  than  to  ex- 
hibit in  place  of  the  coloured  design  the  name  of  "  The 
Rose,"  as  a  general  compliment  to  the  Crown. 

Rose  and  Crown.  This  inn  and  tavern  sign  symbolised 
the  cessation  of  the  Wars  of  the  Roses  by  the  marriage 
of  Henry  VII.  to  Elizabeth,  the  daughter  of  Edward  IV. 

Rosebery  Avenue.  After  Lord  Rosebery,  the  erstwhile 
leader  of  the  Liberal  party  in  our  time. 

Rosoman  Street.  Perpetuates  the  memory  of  Mr  Rosoman, 
who  converted  Sadler's  Musick  House  into  a  regular 
theatre  in  1765. 

Rosslyn  Hill  Park.  From  Rosslyn  House,  the  residence 
of  Alexander  Wedderburn,  Earl  of  Rosslyn,  and  Lord 
Chancellor  of  England. 

Rotherhithe.  Properly  Roth-hithe,  the  Anglo-Saxon  for 
"  red  haven."     See  "  Rutland." 

Rotten  Row.  This  name  is  a  survival  of  the  days  when 
French  was  the  language  of  the  Court.  Properly 
route  du  roi,  it  is  literally  "route  of  the  King,"  and 
meant  the  King's  drive  across  the  park. 

Rouge  et  Noir.     French  for  "  red  and  black,"  the  alternate 


308     Roughriders— Royal  Maunds 

colour  of  the  diamonds  that  distinguish  the  spaces  on 
the  gaming-table. 

Roughriders.  The  name  borne  by  expert  horsemen  in 
Natal,  who  dispense  with  saddles. 

Roulette.      Expresses  the  French  for  "  a  little  wheel." 

Roumania.  As  its  name  implies,  this  was  anciently  a 
Roman  province. 

Roumelia.  A  Turkish  corruption  of  Roumania,  "the 
country  of  the  Romans." 

Roundheads.  The  Parliamentary  soldiers  under  Cromwell, 
so  called  from  the  custom  of  the  Puritans  of  cropping 
the  hair  close  to  the  head,  as  opposed  to  that  of  the 
Cavaliers,  who  wore  it  long. 

Rouser.  An  Americanism  for  what  we  in  this  country 
style  a  "Pick-me-up." 

Rout.  A  fashionable  assembly,  so  called  from  the  German 
rotte  and  Celtic  "rhauter,"  a  crowd.  The  name  is 
now  never  heard,  but  what  are  called  "Rout  Seats," 
generally  requisitioned  for  such  gatherings,  are  still  let 
out  on  hire. 

Rowton  Houses.  The  name  given  to  large  blocks  of 
tenements  exclusively  designed  for  the  accommodation 
of  unmarried  clerks  and  others  employed  in  the  city. 
The  foundation  of  the  late  Lord  Rowton. 

Roxburgh.  From  the  Celtic  ross,  a  headland,  the  castle 
on  the  promontory. 

Roxburghe.  A  superior  style  of  bookbinding,  so  called 
from  that  uniformly  adopted  by  the  Roxburghe  Club, 
a  society  established  for  printing  rare  books,  and 
named  after  John,  Duke  of  Roxburghe,  a  famous 
collector  of  works  of  art  and  literature. 

Royalists.      The  adherents  of  Charles  I.  in  the  Civil  War. 

Royal  Maunds.  The  name  given  to  doles  of  money 
corresponding  to  the  years  of  life  attained  by  the 
reigning  monarch  to  the  poor  on  "  Maundy  Thursday." 


Royal  Oak — Russell  Square      309 

This  custom  has  been  in  vogue  ever  since  the  time  of 
Edward  III. 
Royal   Oak.      An  inn  sign  which  had  its  origin  during  the 
Restoration  period,  in  compliment  to  Charles  II.     See 
"  Oak  Apple  Day." 

Royal  Oak  Day.     Another  name  for  "Oak  Apple  Day." 

Rufus.  The  surname  of  William  II.  on  account  of  his 
florid  complexion  j  rufus  is  the  Latin  for  "  ruddy." 

Rugby.  A  corruption  of  the  Saxon  Rothby^  "red  village," 
in  allusion  to  its  soil. 

Rum.  A  West  Indian  word  for  spirit  distilled  from  cane 
juice. 

Run.  An  Americanism  used  as  a  verb  for  "finance," 
whether  in  relation  to  a  person  or  a  business  enter- 
prise. "Who's  running  him?"  means  who  is  it  that 
keeps  him  going,  or  on  his  feet  ? 

Run  Amuck.  To  run  foul  of  a  person  or  thing.  The 
phrase  is  derived  from  the  Malays,  who,  while  under 
the  influence  of  opium,  rush  through  the  streets  with 
drawn  daggers,  crying  :  Amog  I  amog  I  ("  Kill !  kill ! "), 
and  threaten  the  lives  of  everyone  they  encounter. 

Running  Footman.  A  tavern  sign  in  Mayfair,  reminiscent 
of  the  days  when  running  footmen,  carrying  a  short 
staff  of  office,  preceded  the  carriages  of  the  wealthy. 
The  object  of  this  custom  was  to  give  timely  notice  of 
the  impending  arrival  of  their  masters.  The  tavern  in 
question,  situated  in  Hayes'  Mews,  was  formerly  the 
regular  resort  of  running  footmen  and  sedan  chair- 
men. 

Rupert's  Land.  After  Prince  Rupert,  one  of  the  founders 
of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company. 

Rupert  Street.  After  Prince  Rupert,  who  introduced  his 
invention  of  Prince  Rupert's  Drops,"  or  glass  bubblers, 
into  England. 

Russell  Square.  After  Lord  William  Russell,  the  patriot, 
whose  wife,  Rachel,  was  the  daughter  of  Thomas 
Wriothesley,  Earl  of  Southampton,  Marquis  of  Tavi- 


310     Russell  Street — Sacramentarians 

stock,  Duke  of  Bedford,  the  ancestor  of  the  present 
great  ground  landlord.  The  several  streets  of  the 
same  name  are  included  in  the  estate. 

Russell  Street.  In  Bermondsey,  after  Richard  Russell, 
a  noted  benefactor  to  the  parochial  chanties  during 
his  life,  and  after  his  death  in  1784.  For  other  streets 
so  denominated  on  the  Bedford  estate  see  "Russell 
Square." 

Russia.  The  country  of  the  Rus$t  the  tribe  that  first 
overran  it. 

Rutland.  A  corruption  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  Rothland, 
"  red  land,"  so  called  on  account  of  the  colour  of  its 
soil. 

Rutland  Gate.  After  the  town  mansion  of  the  Dukes  of 
Rutland. 

Rye  Lane.     Leads  to  "  Peckham  Rye." 

Ryot.  A  Hindoo  peasant  or  cultivator  of  the  soil,  so 
called  from  the  Arabic  raaya,  to  pasture. 


Sabbatarians.  The  followers  of  Brabourne,  a  Baptist 
minister,  who  held  that  the  real  Sabbath  was  the 
seventh  day  of  the  week,  as  enunciated  in  the  Book 
of  Genesis.  This  sect  arose  in  1628.  Also  known  as 
"  Seventh  Day  Baptists." 

Sabeans.  The  first  idolaters,  worshippers  of  the  sun,  moon, 
and  stars  as  the  visible  representations  of  the  Deity ; 
so  called  after  Sabi,  the  son  of  Seth. 

Sack.  A  dry  wine  of  great  repute  in  Elizabethan  times, 
so  called  from  the  French  sec,  dry. 

Sackville  Street.  Built  upon  in  1679 — that  is,  twenty  years 
after  "Air  Street" — this  thoroughfare  was  named  in 
honour  of  Charles  Sackville,  Earl  of  Dorset,  one  of 
the  favourites  of  Charles  II. 

Sacramentarians.      The    designation    of   the    Calvinists, 


Sacrilege— St  Bees  311 

or    those   who    denied    the    Real    Presence   in   the 
Eucharist. 

Sacrilege.  Literally  the  act  of  despoiling  that  which  is 
sacred. 

Sadler's  Wells  Theatre.  Originally  a  "  Musick  House" 
in  connection  with  a  Spa  opened  by  Mr  Sadler,  who, 
after  digging  for  gravel  in  his  garden  in  1683,  dis- 
covered an  ancient  "  holy  well  "  that  had  been  stopped 
up  since  the  Reformation. 

Saffron  Hill.  From  the  saffron  which  grew  abundantly 
in  the  grounds  attached  to  Ely  House,  the  town  man- 
sion of  the  bishops  of  Ely. 

Sahara.      Expresses  the  Arabic  for  "  desert." 

Sailor  King.  William  IV.,  who,  having  been  bred  to  the 
sea  in  his  youth,  worked  up  his  way  from  a  midship- 
man to  the  position  of  Lord  High  Admiral.  In  his 
case  promotion  was  no  doubt  easy. 

St  Albans.  The  scene  of  the  martyrdom  of  St  Alban,  a.d. 
297,  in  honour  of  whom  Offa,  King  of  Mercia,  founded 
a  Benedictine  abbey. 

St  Andrew  Undershaft.  The  Church  of  St  Andrew  in 
Leadenhall  Street,  so  called  from  the  tall  shaft  or 
Maypole  which,  bedecked  with  garlands  on  high  festi- 
vals, stood  within  a  few  yards  of  its  door.  Since  this 
shaft  towered  high  above  the  steeple  the  church  was 
said  to  be  "under  the  shaft."  After  the  Reformation  the 
shaft  was  taken  down  and  kept  in  an  adjacent  alley, 
now  called  "Shaft  Alley."  Thirty-two  years  later  the 
popular  voice  declared  it  to  be  a  relic  of  superstition, 
whereupon  it  was  "raised  off  the  hooks,"  sawn  into 
pieces,  and  burnt. 

St  Andrews.  After  St  Andrew,  the  patron  saint  of 
Scotland,  whose  bones  are  enshrined  in  the  Cathedral. 

St  Andrew's  Hill.  From  the  church  of  St  Andrew,  at  its 
south-western  extremity. 

St  Bees.  From  an  ancient  nunnery  founded  in  the  seventh 
century  by  an  Irish  saint  named  Bega.  Partly  destroyed 
by  the  time   of  Henry  I.,  it  was  then  reconstituted 


312    St  Bride  Street— St  George's  Sq. 

as  a  priory  by  Randulp,  Earl  of  Cumberland.  This 
village  is  known  chiefly  on  account  of  its  college,  the 
foundation  of  Dr  Law,  Bishop  of  Chester  in  1806. 

St  Bride  Street.  From  the  neighbouring  parish  church 
of  St  Bride  or  Bridget. 

St  Clement  Danes.  Dedicated  to  St  Clement,  this 
parish  church  received  the  bones  of  Harold  I.  and 
many  of  his  countrymen  during  the  Danish  occupation 
of  England. 

St  David's  Day.  The  birthday  (1st  March)  of  St  David, 
the  patron  saint  of  Wales,  who  when  archbishop 
advised  his  countrymen  to  wear  a  leek  in  their  caps, 
to  distinguish  them  from  their  foes.  In  consequence 
of  the  precaution  they  won  a  decisive  victory  over  the 
Saxons  on  this  day,  and  the  leek  became  the  national 
emblem. 

St  Ethelburga's.  This,  one  of  the  most  ancient  churches  in 
the  city,  was  dedicated  to  St  Ethelburga,  the  daughter 
of  King  Ethelbert,  and  a  paragon  of  all  the  Christian 
virtues. 

St  Ethelreda's.  This  beautiful  city  chupch  in  Ely  Place, 
after  having  gone  through  many  vicissitudes  since  the 
Reformation,  is  now  once  more  a  Roman  Catholic  place 
of  worship.  St  Ethelreda  was  the  daughter  of  Ethel- 
red,  King  of  the  East  Angles ;  her  name  is  often 
corrupted  into  St  Audrey.     See  "  Tawdry." 

St  George  and  Dragon.  An  inn  sign  after  the  patron 
saint  of  England. 

St  George's  Hall.  This  place  of  entertainment,  now  occu- 
pied by  Messrs  Maskelyne  &  Devant,  was  opened  in 
1867  as  St  George's  Opera  House,  so  called  on  account 
of  its  location  in  the  parish  of  St  George,  Hanover 
Square. 

St  George's  in  the  East.  The  modern  designation  of 
"  Ratcliff  Highway,"  from  the  parish  church  dedicated 
to  St  George,  patron  saint  of  England. 

St  George's  Square.  After  the  neighbouring  church, 
dedicated  to  St  George. 


St  Grouse — St  Katherine's  Docks    313 

St  Grouse's  Day.  The  jocular  term  for  the  twelfth  of 
August,  when  grouse  shooting  begins. 

St  Helena.  This  island  was  discovered  on  the  Feast  of 
St  Helena,  1502. 

St  Helen's  Place.  From  the  adjacent  church  of  St 
Helen's,  dedicated  to  St  Helena,  the  mother  of 
Constantine.  Thirty  years  later  in  1 180,  William  Fitz- 
william,  a  wealthy  goldsmith,  founded  a  priory  of  nuns 
in  connection  therewith. 

St  James's  Palace.  Stands  on  the  site  of  an  ancient 
hospital  for  lepers  dedicated  to  St  James  the  Less, 
Bishop  of  Jerusalem.  The  original  palace  was  built 
by  Holbein  for  Henry  VIII. 

St  James's  Square.  Like  the  street  of  the  same  name, 
after  St  James's  Palace. 

St  John's  Gate.  The  last  vestige  of  the  ancient  priory  of 
St  John  of  Jerusalem,  the  English  seat  of  the  Knights 
Hospitallers.  The  gateway  now  forms  the  headquarters 
of  the  St  John's  Ambulance  Association.  Here 
William  Cave,  the  printer,  projected  and  published 
The  Gentleman's  Magazine. 

St  John's  Wood.  From  the  ancient  "  Abbey  of  the  Holy 
Virgins  of  St  John  the  Baptist,"  which  nestled  among 
the  now  vanished  woods  in  this  neighbourhood. 

St  Katherine  Coleman.  Dedicated  to  St  Katherine,  this 
city  church  received  its  second  name  on  account  of 
its  location  in  the  garden  of  one  Coleman,  the  builder 
of  the  street  called  after  him. 

St  Katherine  Cree.  Originally  a  chapel  dedicated  to 
St  Katherine  in  the  parish  of  Holy  Trinity  (in  the 
Minories).  This  on  the  abolition  of  the  neighbouring 
benefices  of  Christ  Church,  St  Mary  Magdalen,  and 
St  Michael  was  made  into  a  separate  parish  of 
Christ  Church,  and,  while  retaining  the  old  name,  came 
to  be  known  as  "St  Katherine  Christi,"  of  which 
11  Cree  "  is  a  corruption. 

St  Katherine's  Docks.     From  an  ancient  hospital  of  St 


3H    St  Kitt's— St  Michael's  Mount 

Katherine,   displaced   when  these   docks   were    con- 
structed in  1828. 

St  Kitt's  Island.  Discovered  by  Columbus,  it  was  named 
by  him  after  St  Christopher,  his  patron  saint. 

St  Lawrence.  The  gulf  of  this  name  was  first  entered,  and 
the  navigation  of  the  great  river  embarked  upon,  on 
the  Feast  of  St  Lawrence,  1500. 

St  Lawrence  Jewry.  The  church  dedicated  to  St  Lawrence 
in  the  Jewry.     See  "  Old  Jewry." 

St  Leger  Stakes.     See  "  Doncaster  St  Leger." 

St  Lubbock.  The  popular  nickname  of  Lord  Avebury, 
formerly  Sir  John  Lubbock,  to  whom  our  countrymen 
are  indebted  for  the  introduction  of  legalised  Bank 
Holidays. 

St  Margaret  Pattens.  This  church  received  its  name 
from  the  gilt  spots,  or  patines,  with  which  its  roof  was 
anciently  decorated.  A  'paten  is  the  circular  gold  dish 
which  covers  the  chalice  at  the  altar. 

St  Martin's  Lane.  From  the  parish  church  of  St  Martin 
in  the  Fields. 

St  Martin' s-le-Grand.  The  official  [designation  of  the 
buildings  collectively  comprised  in  the  headquarters  of 
the  General  Post  Office.  This  is  because  the  original 
edifice  occupies  the  site  of  an  ancient  college  church 
dedicated  to  St  Martin-le-Grand,  the  foundation  of 
Within,  King  of  Kent  in  750,  and  invested  with  the 
privilege  of  sanctuary  under  a  charter  of  William  the 
Conqueror. 

St  Mary-Axe.  From  a  vanished  church  of  St  Mary  that 
stood  opposite  to  a  shop  which  had  an  axe  for  its 
sign.     Originally  "  St  Mary-by-the-Axe." 

St   Mary-le-Bow.     See  "  Bow  Church." 

St  Mary  Woolnoth.  Dedicated  to  the  Virgin ;  this  church 
was  so  called  because  it  stood  nough,  or  nigh,  to  the 
ancient  wool  beam  or  staple. 

St  Michael's  Mount.     Anciently  the  seat  of  a  religious 


St  Olave's-St  Stephen's        315 

house,  to  the  monks  of  which,  as  tradition  states,  St 
Michael  once  appeared  on  the  crag,  where  in  later 
years  a  castle  was  built,  the  exact  spot  being  indicated 
by  a  stone  lantern,  since  known  as  "  St  Michael's 
Chair." 
St  Olave's.  A  corruption  of  "  St  Olaf's,"  this  church 
having  been  dedicated  to  Olaf,  King  of  Norway,  who 
Christianised  his  country,  and  at  the  invitation  of 
Ethelred  came  over  to  England  to  render  aid  in  the 
work  of  expelling  the  Danes. 

St  Pancras.  This  parish  takes  its  name  from  the  ancient 
church  in  Old  St  Pancras  Road  dedicated  to  the  boy 
saint  who  was  martyred  by  Diocletian.  A  representa- 
tion of  this  youth  being  attacked  by  wild  dogs  may 
be  seen  on  the  stone  bridge  over  the  Regent's  Canal, 
which  serves  as  a  boundary  mark  to  the  parish. 

St  Partridge's  Day.     A  popular  nickname  for  "  Partridge 

Day." 
St  Paul  of  the  Cross.     See  "  Passionists." 

St  Petersburg.  Founded  by  Peter  the  Great,  and  dedi- 
cated to  St  Peter,  whose  church  is  situated  within  the 
citadel. 

St  Sepulchre's.  The  foundation  of  this  church  was  the 
outcome  of  the  Crusades,  in  honour  of  the  Holy 
Sepulchre  at  Jerusalem.  Appropriately  enough,  the 
bell  of  the  modern  edifice  gave  warning  to  the  un- 
happy inmates  of  the  condemned  cell  in  Newgate 
Prison  over  the  way  of  their  approaching  last  hour. 

St  Sophia.  This  beautiful  mosque  at  Constantinople, 
although  originally  a  Christian  cathedral,  so  far  from 
having  been  dedicated  to  any  St  Sophia,  was  called 
Hagia  Sopia,  "  Holy  Wisdom  " — i.e.  the  eternal  wisdom 
of  God  manifested  in  the  Second  Person  of  the  Trinity. 

St  Stephen's.  The  House  of  Commons  bears  this  name 
because,  in  the  absence  of  a  separate  building,  its 
members  held  their  sittings  in  the  Chapel  of  St 
Stephen's,  Westminster  Abbey,  until  that  edifice  was 
burned  down,  16th  October  1834. 


316    St  Swithin's  Day — Salisbury  Square 

St  Swithin's  Day.  The  day  of  the  attempted  reinterment 
(15th  July)  of  the  body  of  St  S within,  preceptor  of 
King  Ethelwulf  and  Bishop  of  Rochester,  whose  death 
took  place  2nd  July  862.  Not  regarding  himself 
worthy  to  be  "laid"  within  the  sacred  edifice,  he 
requested  that  he  might  be  buried  just  outside  the 
door  in  the  churchyard,  so  that  the  faithful  would 
walk  over  his  grave.  Although  they  acceded  to  this 
last  wish,  the  monks  decided  afterwards  to  lay  him 
inside  the  church ;  but  their  design  was  frustrated  for 
forty  successive  days  by  a  pouring  rain,  until  at  last 
they  desisted  from  the  attempt.  This  circumstance 
gave  rise  to  the  saying  that  "  If  it  rains  on  St  Swithin's 
day  it  will  rain  for  forty  days." 

St  Valentine's  Day.  The  connection  between  St  Valen- 
tine and  the  poetical  epistles  that  were  formerly  inter- 
changed between  young  lovers  on  the  14th  of  February 
is  somewhat  remote.  On  this  day  the  good  Christian 
Bishop  was  beheaded  at  Rome  in  the  year  278.  Long 
before  this,  however,  Roman  youths  and  maidens  had 
followed  the  custom  of  selecting  a  lover  for  the  year 
by  shaking  up  the  names  of  their  favourites,  written 
on  separate  tablets,  in  a  box.  This  arose  out  of  the 
old  notion  that  birds  begin  to  pair  on  the  14th  of 
February.  The  martyrdom  of  Bishop  Valentine  on 
this  day  therefore  actuated  the  Christians  to  style 
their  selected  lover  their  Valentine,  and  the  presents 
they  exchanged  in  modern  times  bore  the  same  name. 

Salic  Law.  The  ancient  Frankish  law  by  which  females 
were  excluded  from  the  throne.  This  was  originally 
confined  to  what  were  called  "Salic  Lands,"  either,  as 
some  say,  from  the  satte,  or  hall  of  the  owner,  or, 
according  to  others,  from  the  Salian  Franks,  those 
bordering  on  the  Sale  or  Yssel  River ;  the  enactment 
eventually  applied  to  the  heritage  of  the  Frankish 
kingdom. 

Salisbury  Square.  This,  like  the  street  and  court  of  the 
same  name,  marks  the  site  of  the  town  mansion  and 
grounds  of  the  bishops  of  Salisbury. 


Salop— Sand  wiches  3 1 7 

Salop.      See  "  Shropshire." 

Salt  Lake  City.  The  hot-bed  of  the  Mormons,  founded 
on  the  borders  of  the  Great  Salt  Lake,  so  called  on 
account  of  the  saline  character  of  its  waters. 

Salutation.  An  inn  sign  in  honour  of  the  Salutation  of 
the  Virgin. 

Salviati.      See  "  Del  Salviati." 

Salzburg.      The  fortified  town  on  the  Salza  River. 

Samaria.  After  Shemer,  the  owner  of  the  hill  which,  as 
we  are  told  in  i  Kings  xvi.  24,  Omri  bought  for  two 
talents  of  silver,  "  and  built  on  the  hill,  and  called  the 
name  of  the  city  which  he  built,  after  the  name  of 
Shemer,  owner  of  the  hill,  Samaria." 

Sambo.  The  generic  name  of  a  North  American  Negro ; 
derived  from  the  native  Zambo^  the  offspring  of  a  black 
and  a  Mulatto. 

Sanci  Diamond.  One  of  the  great  gems  of  the  world, 
weighing  106  carats,  originally  the  property  of  a  French 
nobleman  of  this  name,  and  purchased  in  1835  by  tne 
Czar  of  Russia  for  half-a-million  roubles. 

Sandbaggers.  A  modern  street  terror  in  American  cities 
while  the  police  are  looking  the  other  way,  so  called 
because  they  stun  their  victims  with  elongated  bags  of 
hard,  wet  sand,  and  then  rob  them  at  leisure. 

Sandhillers.  A  name  given  in  America  to  the  descendants 
of  the  white  labourers,  who,  ousted  from  their  employ- 
ment when  slavery  came  in,  sought  the  sand-hills  amid 
the  pine  forests  of  Georgia  and  South  Carolina. 

Sandow  Girl.  A  physical  culture  girl  trained  at  the  Aca- 
demy of  Eugene  Sandow,  or  at  home  by  means  of  appli- 
ances advertised  in  connection  therewith.  Also  known 
as  the  "Symmetrion  Girl"  from  the  name  on  the 
familiar  posters.  The  Sandow  or  Symmetrion  Girls 
proved  a  great  attraction  in  the  Athletic  Scene  of  The 
Dairymaids  at  the  Apollo  Theatre. 

Sandwich.      The  sand  village. 

Sandwiches.      After   John   Montague,  Earl  of  Sandwich, 


318     Sandwich  Islands— Santa  Fe 

whose  chief  claim  to  celebrity  lay  in  the  fact  that  he 
was  an  inveterate  gamester.  It  is  on  record  that  he 
often  remained  engrossed  in  play  for  thirty  hours  at  a 
stretch  without  partaking  of  a  meal.  From  time  to 
time,  however,  he  would  ask  the  waiter  to  bring  him 
a  slice  of  meat  between  two  pieces  of  bread,  as  a  stay 
to  the  appetite.  The  waiter  called  this  improvised 
meal  a  "Sandwich,"  and  by  that  name  it  has  ever 
since  been  known. 

Sandwich  Islands.  Named  by  Captain  Cook  in  honour  of 
Lord  Sandwich,  First  Lord  of  the  Admiralty,  at  the 
time  when  they  were  discovered  by  him. 

Sandy.  The  nickname  of  a  Scotsman,  being  short  for 
Alexander,  the  most  common  Christian  name  to  be 
met  with  in  North  Britain. 

San  Francisco.  Dedicated  to  St  Francis,  this  Spanish- 
American  city  really  received  its  name  from  a  coast 
settlement  of  missionaries  styled  "San  Francisco  de 
Costa  Dolores"  as  far  back  as  September  1776. 

Sankey's  Horse.  The  regimental  nickname  of  the  39th 
Foot.  This  was  merited  in  India,  when  they  were 
called  upon  to  do  temporary  service  on  horseback 
under  Colonel  Sankey. 

Sansculottes.  The  lowest  orders  of  the  people  during  the 
French  Revolution.  This,  literally  "  without  breeches," 
was  the  scornful  title  at  first  bestowed  by  the  aristocrats 
upon  the  Democratic  party  on  account  of  their  neglect- 
ful attire.  A  little  while  later  the  Red  Republicans 
accepted  it  with  pride  as  the  password  for  patriotism. 

San  Salvador.  This  being  the  first  land  sighted  in  the 
New  World  by  Columbus,  he  honoured  it  with  the  name 
of  the  "Holy  Saviour,"  as  a  perpetual  expression  of 
thanksgiving. 

Sans  Souci.  This,  the  French  for  "free  and  easy,"  or 
"  without  care,"  was  the  name  borne  by  a  famous 
place  of  amusement  originally  built  by  Dibdin  as  a 
bijou  theatre  in  Leicester  Square. 

Santa  Fe.     Spanish  for  "  Holy  Faith." 


Santa  Cruz — Sardinia  319 

Santa  Cruz.     Spanish  for  "  Holy  Cross." 

Santiago.  From  the  cathedral  (in  the  city  of  Spain  so 
named)  containing  the  bones  of  St  Jago,  or  James  the 
Less,  the  national  patron  saint. 

Saraband.  After  Zarabanda,  a  celebrated  dancer  of  Seville, 
who  invented  it. 

Saracens.  From  the  Arabic  sharkeyn,  "  eastern  people  " ; 
originally  the  designation  of  the  Bedouins  of  Eastern 
Arabia.  By  the  Crusaders  it  was  applied  to  the 
Mohammedans  generally.     See  "  Moors." 

Saracen's  Head.  An  inn  sign  of  the  time  of  the  Crusades. 
Lest  it  might  be  thought  that  this  was  complimentary 
to  the  enemies  of  Christianity,  mention  may  be  made 
of  the  fact  that  the  head  of  the  Saracen  was  represented 
as  severed. 

Saragossa.  A  corruption  of  the  Roman  name  Ccesarea 
Augusta. 

Saratoga.  Indian  for  "miraculous  waters  from  the  rock," 
touching  the  famous  mineral  springs. 

Saratoga  Trunk.  The  popular  type  of  travelling  trunk  in 
the  United  States,  so  called  because  it  was  first  used 
by  visitors  to  Saratoga  Springs. 

Sarcophagus.  A  Greek  compound  of  sarkos,  flesh,  and 
phargO)  to  eat.  The  term  was  originally  applied  to  a 
receptacle  for  the  dead,  because  the  early  examples 
were  made  out  of  a  kind  of  limestone  which  was 
thought  to  possess  the  property  of  consuming  a  corpse 
in  a  very  short  time. 

Sardines.  From  Sardinia,  in  the  waters  of  which  island 
the  true  species  of  this  fish  abound. 

Sardinia.  Called  Sandaliotis  by  the  Greeks  on  account  of 
its  resemblance  to  a  human  footprint ;  this  name  was 
changed  by  the  Romans  to  Sardo.  At  a  later  period 
the  island  was  called  Sardonion,  from  a  poisonous 
herb,  transplanted  from  Sardis  in  Asia  Minor,  which 
brought  about  a  twitching  of  the  muscles  of  the  face 


320    Sardinia  Street — Savoy  Street 

resembling    laughter;    hence   the  phrase   to   "Smile 
sardonically." 

Sardinia  Street.  From  the  Sardinian  Chapel  built  in  1648 
in  connection  with  the  residence  of  the  Sardinian 
Ambassador  at  the  time  when  the  island  of  Sardinia 
was  nominally  a  kingdom,  but  really  in  the  possession 
of  Spain. 

Sardonic  Smile.     See  "Sardinia." 

Sarsenet.     A  fine  silk  originally  of  Saracenic  manufacture. 

Saturday.  This,  the  seventh  day  of  the  week,  was  dedi- 
cated by  the  Romans  to  Saturn.  As,  however,  all  the 
other  week-days  were  named  by  the  people  of  Northern 
Europe  in  accordance  with  Scandinavian  mythology, 
one  must  incline  to  the  opinion  that  this  was  named 
after  Sseter,  a  water  deity.  Its  Anglo-Saxon  designation 
was  Sczterdceg. 

Saturnalia.  The  great  winter  festival  of  the  Romans  in 
honour  of  Saturn,  the  god  of  agriculture. 

Saunders  Blue.  An  easy  corruption  of  the  French  Cendres 
bleuSy  "blue  ashes,"  calcined  bluestone  being  the  sub- 
stance from  which  this  pigment  is  obtained. 

Sauterne.  A  French  wine  produced  at  the  place  of  the 
name,  in  the  department  of  Gironde. 

Saved  my  Bacon.  This  expression  originated  during  the 
Civil  War,  when  housewives  took  extraordinary  measures 
to  save  the  bacon  stored  up  for  winter  consumption 
from  the  greedy  appetites  of  soldiers  on  the  march. 

Savile  Row.  After  Dorothy  Savile,  who,  marrying  into  the 
Burlington  family,  received  this  portion  of  the  estate 
as  her  separate  property. 

Savoy.  A  cabbage  originally  introduced  from  the  French 
department  of  this  name. 

Savoy  Street.  From  the  Savoy  Chapel,  the  original  of 
which,  prior  to  its  destruction  by  fire,  7th  July  1864, 
was  the  only  remaining  portion  of  the  ancient  Savoy 
Palace  built  by  Peter  of  Savoy,  uncle  to  the  queen  of 
of  Henry  III.,  in  1249. 


Sawney — Scavenger's  Daughter    321 

Sawney.     A  variant  of  "  Sandy." 

Saxons.  From  the  seax,  the  short  crooked  knife  with 
which  this  tribe  were  armed.  Sahs  is  the  Old  German 
for  knife.  Since  the  days  of  Daniel  O'Connell  Irish 
patriots  have  been  fond  of  referring  to  the  English 
people  as  Saxons,  the  natural  enemies  of  the  Celts. 

S'Blood.  A  trooper's  corruption  of  "  His  Blood,"  or  the 
precious  blood  of  the  Redeemer.  This  species  of  pro- 
fanity survives  in  the  vulgar  swear- word  "  Bloody." 

Scales  of  Justice.  The  ancient  Egyptians  believed  that 
the  good  deeds  of  a  soul  after  death  would  be  weighed 
against  his  evil  deeds.  The  Koran  likewise  teaches 
that  the  merits  and  demerits  of  departed  souls  are 
balanced  in  the  scales  of  the  Archangel  Gabriel ; 
hence  the  phrase  now  popular  all  the  civilised  world 
over. 

Scalper.  An  Americanism  for  one  who  speculates  in  rail- 
road tickets,  and  consequently  obtains  them  at  a 
reduction  of  their  top  prices. 

Scaramouch.  A  character  in  the  old  Italian  comedy,  the 
prototype  of  the  modern  clown,  so  called  from 
scaramuccia,  a  skirmish. 

Scarborough.  The  fortified  scar  or  precipitous  cliff,  so 
called  on  account  of  the  castle  built  about  1136. 

Scarborough  Warning.       A  warning  given  too  late  to  be 
taken  advantage  of.     In  1557  Thomas  Stafford  seized 
Scarborough  Castle  before  the  townsfolk  had  the  least 
intelligence  of  his  approach.     After  taking  possession 
he  advised  them  to  fly  from  the  town  and  leave  their 
belongings. 
Scarlet.     From  the  Persian  sakarlat,  "  bright  red." 
Scavenger's    Daughter.      A    corruption    of    Skevington's 
Daughter,    this   instrument   of  torture   being  the   in- 
vention  of  William   Skevington,    Lieutenant   of   the 
Tower,  temp.  Henry  VIII.     He  called  it  his  daughter 
because  it   emanated   from  his   own   brain.      Those 
who   were  fated  to   suffer  by  it  sadly  consented,  as 
the  saying  was,  to  "  Kiss  the  Scavenger's  Daughter." 
x 


322  Schaffhausen— Scotia 

Schaffhausen.  Literal  German  for  "sheep-houses"  or 
pens. 

Schiedam.  Another  name  for  Hollands,  or  Dutch  gin,  from 
the  place  where  this  native  spirit  is  distilled. 

Schooner.  This  kind  of  vessel  received  its  name  from  the 
exclamation  of  a  spectator  at  the  time  when  its  earliest 
example  was  launched  :  "  Look,  she  schoons  ! " 

Schottische.  Expresses  the  German  for  a  Scottish  dance, 
a  variation  of  the  polka,  in  three-quarter  time.  The 
Scots,  however,  repudiate  its  invention.  It  is  not 
improbable  that  a  Scotsman,  sojourning  in  the  Father- 
land, blundered  into  this  step  through  his  inability  to 
dance  the  polka  correctly.  ^ 

Scilly  Isles.  After  the  name  of  one  of  the  smallest,  in 
proximity  to  a  very  dangerous  rock  similar  to  that  of 
Scylla  in  Sicily  which,  according  to  Homer,  was  the 
abode  of  a  monster  so  denominated. 

Scissors-tail.  A  South  American  bird  which  in  the  course 
of  its  flights  opens  and  shuts  its  tail  for  the  purpose  of 
entrapping  the  flies  that  constitute  its  prey. 

Scorching.  A  bicycling  term  which,  curiously  enough,  only 
came  into  vogue  after  the  possibility  of  realising  it 
had  been  removed.  In  the  days  of  the  old  "Bone- 
shaker," before  rubber  tyres  were  heard  of,  there  would 
have  been  great  likelihood  of  setting  the  wooden 
machine  on  fire  by  furious  riding  on  the  part  of  an 
expert. 

Scotch  Reel.     See  "  Reel." 

Scot-free.  A  phrase  derived  from  the  old  legal  exaction 
"Scot  and  Lot,"  the  former  being  derived  from  the 
Anglo-Saxon  sceat,  pay,  and  the  latter  meaning  a  tribute 
allotted  to  every  man  according  to  his  means.  It  was 
rare  indeed  that  anyone  got  off  "Scot-free"  in  ancient 
times. 

Scotia.  From  the  Celtic  scot,  wanderer,  with  the  suffix  m, 
country;  the  ancient  designation  of  the  Highlands, 
now,  with  the  Lowlands,  called  "  Scotland." 


Scotists — Scroll  of  Fame         323 

Scotists.  Those  who  accepted  the  doctrine  of  John  Duns 
Scotus  relative  to  the  Immaculate  Conception,  in 
opposition  to  the  "Thomists." 

Scotland.     See  "Scotia." 

Scotland  Yard.  On  the  site  of  the  original  Scotland  Yard 
stood  an  ancient  palace  appropriated  to  the  Scottish 
kings,  who  were  required  to  pay  homage  once  a  year 
to  the  English  sovereign  at  Westminster  Abbey.  The 
last  Scottish  monarch  so  accommodated  was  Margaret, 
the  sister  of  Henry  VII. 

Scots.     See  "  Scotia." 

Scottish  Covenanters.     See  "  Covenanters." 

Scottish  Hogarth.  The  surname  of  David  Allan  of  Alloa, 
whose  portraits  and  historical  paintings  occupy  a  high 
position  in  the  esteem  of  his  countrymen. 

Scottish  Presbyterians.  The  successors  of  the  Scottish 
Covenanters,  and  founders  of  the  Established  Church  of 
Scotland.     See  "  Presbyterians." 

Scowerers.  Eighteenth-century  rakes  who  scoured  the 
streets  of  London  by  night,  overturning  the  "Old 
Charlies"  in  their  boxes,  and  molesting  peaceable 
citizens. 

Scratched  Horse.  One  that  has  its  name  struck  out  of  the 
final  list  of  runners  in  a  race.  Those  who  have 
backed  their  money  on  it  swear  a  little,  but  no  one 
else  cares  a  jot  for  their  discomfiture. 

Screw.  Colloquial  for  "wages."  See  "Raise  your 
Screw." 

Screwed.  Drunk.  This  is  simply  a  play  on  the  word 
"Tight." 

Screw  of  Tobacco.  So  called  because  it  is  screwed  up 
in  a  paper. 

Scriptures.  Expresses  the  plural  of  the  Latin  scriptura, 
a  writing,  from  the  verb  scribere,  to  write.  The  Bible 
is  a  collection  of  books  or  writings. 

Scroll    of    Fame.     The  word  "Scroll"  is  a  corruption  of 


324         Scullery — Seething  Lane 

"  Roll,"  relative  to  paper,  although  from  "  scroll "  we 
have  derived  the  term  "  Schedule."     See  "  Roll  Call." 

Scullery.  The  annexe  to  a  kitchen,  where  the  dishes  and 
pots  are  washed  up,  so  called  from  the  Norman- 
French  esculle,  a  porringer  or  dish.  The  man-servant 
or  boy  whose  work  lay  in  the  scullery  was  in  former 
days  called  a  "Scullion." 

S'Death.  A  softened  form  of  the  profane  oath  "His 
Blood,"  in  reference  to  the  Saviour. 

Sea  of  Marmora.  From  the  Latin  marmor^  marble, 
which  for  centuries  has  been  quarried  on  a  small 
island  at  its  western  extremity. 

Sebastopol.     From  the  Greek  Sebastopolis,  "august  city." 

Secretary  Bird.  A  South  African  bird  distinguished  by  a 
tuft  of  feathers  on  each  side  of  its  head  which  form 
a  fanciful  resemblance  to  quill  pens  stuck  behind  the 
ear. 

Sectarians.  The  general  name  for  Dissenters  attached  to 
any  one  of  the  numerous  sects  or  denominations  out- 
side the  Established  Church. 

Secular  Clergy.     See  "Regular  Clergy." 

Secularist.  From  the  Latin  seculum,  an  age,  a  generation ; 
one  who  advocates  the  happiness  or  well-being  of  the 
community  during  the  present  life,  leaving  the  future 
completely  out  of  count. 

Sedan-chairs.      First  made  at  Sedan,  France. 

See  how  it  pans  out.  Originally  a  miners'  phrase  in 
the  Far  West.  To  separate  the  gold  grains  from  the 
earth  in  which  they  are  found  a  pan  of  water  is  brought 
into  service ;  when  the  pan  is  shaken  the  gold  collects 
at  the  bottom. 

Seekers.  The  original  designation  of  the  Quakers,  because 
they  sought  the  truth  with  the  solicitude  of  Nicodemus, 
the  Jewish  ruler  (John  iii.  1-2 1). 

Seething  Lane.  A  corruption  of  Sidon  Lane,  after  the 
name  of  the  first  builder  on  the  land. 


Selkirk's  Island — Sermon  Lane    325 

Selkirk's  Island.  Also  called  the  isle  of  "Juan  Fer- 
nandez." 

Seltzer  Water.  A  corrupted  spelling  of  "Seltsers,"  the 
name  of  a  village  near  Limburg  in  Prussia  famous  for 
its  mineral  springs. 

Senate.  The  Upper  House  of  the  United  States  Congress. 
The  term  properly  implies  an  elder,  from  the  Latin 
senis,  an  old  man. 

Senegambia.  The  territory  situated  between  the  Senegal 
and  Gambia  Rivers. 

Sent  to  Coventry.  As  its  name  implies,  Coventry  was  in 
olden  times  a  great  centre  of  religious  life,  touching 
the  number  of  its  conventual  establishments.  Soldiers 
sent  to  the  garrison  there  soon  discovered  that  no 
woman  would  speak  to  them.  Hence  to  be  sent  to 
Coventry  was  a  great  hardship,  since  it  meant  being 
cut  off  from  "life"  in  every  form,  and  female  inter- 
course particularly. 

Separatists.  Another  name  for  the  Home  Rulers  during  the 
lifetime  of  Mr  Parnell.  It  implied  virtual  separation 
from  English  rule. 

Sepia.  Greek  for  "cuttle-fish,"  from  the  inky  secretion 
under  the  glands  of  which  this  pigment  is  obtained. 

September.  The  seventh  month  of  the  Roman  year, 
counting  from  March. 

Serjeants'  Inn.  Anciently  the  inn  or  mansion  of  the 
"  Freres  Serjens,"  a  brotherhood  of  Servitors  to  the 
Knights  Templars  hard  by.  It  was  these  who  per- 
formed the  ordinary  household  duties  in  the  Temple. 

Serle  Street.  After  Henry  Serle  of  Lincoln's  Inn,  the 
owner  of  considerable  property  in  this  neighbourhood 
when  the  parish  of  St  Clement  Danes  was  very  different 
to  what  it  is  now. 

Sermon  Lane.  Anciently  "  Sheremoniers'  Lane,"  so 
called  from  the  money  shearers  or  clippers'  office 
adjacent  to  the  first  London  Mint. 


326    Serpentine — Seven  Sisters'  Road 

Serpentine.  An  artificial  winding  lake  formed  out  of  the 
pools  and  the  Tyburn  in  Hyde  Park  in  1733.  See 
"  Bayswater." 

Servia.  The  country  of  the  Suevi,  a  people  driven  by  the 
Romans  into  that  portion  of  Germany  now  called 
"Suabia,"  until  after  further  migrations  northward 
they  settled  in  Sweden. 

Servites.  This  religious  Order  grew  out  of  the  pious 
example  of  seven  Florentine  merchants  who  in  1283 
assembled  each  evening  for  devotional  exercises  in 
a  lady  chapel  and  styled  themselves  "  The  Religious 
Servants  of  the  Holy  Virgin."  The  London  house  of 
the  Community  is  in  the  Fulham  Road. 

Set  her  Cap  at  him.  With  the  coquetry  peculiar  to  her 
sex,  a  female  always  put  on  her  most  becoming  cap  to 
attract  the  male  visitor  whom  she  favoured.  Now  that 
caps  are  no  longer  worn  she  resorts  to  other  devices, 
but  the  old  expression  survives. 

Set  the  Thames  on  fire.  A  "  temse "  was  the  old  name 
for  a  sieve,  agreeably  to  the  French  tamis  and  the 
Italian  tamiso,  which  terms  express  the  same  imple- 
ment. A  sifter  would  require  to  work  very  hard 
indeed  to  ignite  his  sieve.  Accordingly  a  bystander 
often  said  to  him  touching  his  apparent  laziness : 
"You'll  never  set  the  temse  on  fire!"  Its  punning 
application  to  the  River  Thames  is  perhaps  pardonable. 

Seven  Dials.  A  once  notorious  thieves'  neighbourhood, 
which  received  its  name  from  a  stone  column  present- 
ing seven  dials  or  faces,  from  which  the  same  number 
of  streets  radiated.  This,  originally  set  up  to  mark  the 
limits  of  St  Giles's  and  St  Martin's  parishes,  was 
removed  in  1763,  owing  to  the  erroneous  idea  that 
a  large  sum  of  money  lay  buried  beneath  it. 

Seven  Sisters'  Road.  This  long  road,  extending  from 
Holloway  to  Tottenham,  received  its  name  from  seven 
trees  planted  in  Page  Green  in  the  latter  parish  by  the 
Sisters  Page.  Local  tradition  has  it  that  one  of  these 
was  a  cripple,  and  the  tree  planted  by  her  grew  up 
deformed. 


Seventh  Day  Baptists — Sheen    327 

Seventh  Day  Baptists.     See  "Sabbatarians." 

Saxagesima  Sunday.  Approximately  the  sixtieth  day  before 
Easter. 

Seymour  Place.  After  one  of  the  family  names  of  the 
Portmans,  owners  of  the  estate. 

Seymour  Street.  Far  removed  from  Seymour  Place,  this 
has  no  connection  with  the  Portman  family,  having 
received  its  name  from  the  first  builder  on  the  land. 

Shadwell.  A  corruption  of  St  Chad's  Well,"  a  reputed 
holy  well  discovered  hereabouts  in  ancient  days. 

Shaft  Alley.     See  "St  Andrew  Undershaft." 

Shaftesbury  Avenue.  After  Anthony  Ashley  Cooper, 
seventh  Earl  of  Shaftsbury,  who  performed  the  opening 
ceremony  of  this  new  thoroughfare  shortly  before  his 
death  in  1885. 

Shah  Diamond.  A  gem  weighing  86  carats,  long  the 
property  of  Chosroes  I.,  Shah  of  Persia,  who,  dying  in 
579,  presented  it  to  a  Khan  of  the  Tartars,  from  whom 
it  descended  to  Ivan  III.,  the  grandfather  of  Ivan  the 
Terrible,  the  first  Czar  of  Russia. 

Shakers.  An  American  sect,  first  heard  of  in  1774,  at 
Albany  in  the  state  of  New  York,  so  called  from  the 
convulsive  movements  of  the  hands  and  arms  as  part 
of  their  peculiar  form  of  worship.  Its  founder  was 
Ann  Lee,  self-styled  "  Mother  Ann,"  of  Manchester, 
who,  receiving  little  encouragement  for  her  religious 
tenets  in  her  native  land,  emigrated  with  a  few 
disciples  to  the  New  World. 

Shalloon.     Originally  manufactured  at  Chalons  in  France. 

Shanty.  This  term  for  a  hut  or  cabin  first  obtained 
currency  in  Canada,  having  been  derived  from  the 
French  settlers,  who  gave  the  name  chantier  to  a  hut 
erected  in  a  dockyard  under  construction. 

Shattered  Prices.     An  Americanism  for  "  reduced  prices." 

"  She  "  Bible.     See  "  '  He '  Bible." 

Sheen.     See  "Richmond." 


328    Sheet  Anchor— Sherry  Cobbler 

Sheet  Anchor.  A  corruption  of  "Shote  Anchor,"  an 
extra  heavy  one,  that  can  be  expeditiously  shot  out  for 
the  greater  security  of  a  vessel  under  stress  of  weather. 
To  act  as  a  sheet  anchor  to  a  man  is  to  be  his 
mainstay  or  chief  dependence. 

Sheffield.  From  the  River  Sheaf,  on  the  confluence  of 
which  and  the  Don  the  town  stands. 

Shekel  Day.  The  day  (27th  May)  set  apart  every  year 
throughout  the  Jewish  world  for  the  collection  of  a 
shekel — a  shilling,  franc  mark,  half  rouble,  or  "  quarter," 
according  to  the  currency  of  the  individual  country 
— in  support  of  the  Zionist  Movement  for  the  re-co- 
lonisation of  Palestine.  The  word  "shekel"  is  from 
the  Hebrew  shekal,  to  weigh. 

Shepherdess  Walk.  A  name  reminiscent  of  the  days  when 
the  entire  district  between  Finsbury  and  "Merrie 
Islington  "  was  open  fields. 

Shepherd's  Bush.  Pleasantly  pastoral  as  the  name  is,  this 
district  is  now  wholly  built  over.  A  "  Shepherd's  bush  " 
was  a  hillock  covered  with  soft  vegetation  on  which  he 
reclined  while  tending  his  flocks. 

Shepherd's  Market.  The  site  of  a  former  weekly  market, 
the  land  of  which,  like  that  of  Market  Street  and 
Shepherd  Street,  was  owned  by  a  person  of  this  name. 

Shepperton.  A  corruption  of  "Shepherd's  Town"; 
whether  derived  from  the  name  of  the  landowner,  or 
because  the  district  was  originally  given  up  to  sheep- 
folds,  is  not  known. 

Sherbet.  The  national  beverage  in  Arabia,  so  called  from 
shariba,  to  drink,  because  it  is  taken  at  a  single 
draught;  hence  the  same  name  applied  to  effervesc- 
ing liquors  in  this  country. 

Sherry.  An  English  corruption  of  "Sherris,"  a  dry  wine 
exported  from  Xeres  in  Spain. 

Sherry  Cobbler.  An  American  drink  which,  in  addition 
to  the  ordinary  ingredients  of  a  "Cobbler,"  contains  a 
dash  of  sherry. 


Shetland  Isles — Shoe  Lane       329 

Shetland  Isles.  Anciently  described  as  Hyaltland,  the 
Norse  for  "Viking  Land,"  the  name  was  softened  into 
Zetland,  and  finally  as  we  now  have  it. 

She  Wolf  of  France.  A  name  that  will  ever  cling  to  the 
memory  of  Isabella,  the  queen  of  Edward  II.,  whom 
she  caused  to  be  murdered  most  foully  through  the 
instrumentality  of  her  paramour,  the  Earl  of  Mortimer. 
This  monster  of  iniquity  lies  buried  in  Christ  Church, 
Newgate  Street. 

Shift.  An  old  name  for  a  chemise,  denoting  a  shift  or 
change  of  linen  ;  also  an  industrial  term  for  a  change  of 
men  at  certain  hours,  so  that  work  can  be  carried  on 
uninterruptedly  by  day  and  night. 

Shillelagh.  A  oaken  sapling  fashioned  into  a  cudgel 
for  self-defence,  so  called  from  a  wood  in  Ireland 
celebrated  for  its  oaks. 

Shilling.  This  silver  coin  was  of  considerable  value  to 
our  ancestors,  who  always  sounded  it  as  a  test  of  its 
genuineness.  Hence,  as  the  "  ringing  coin,"  the 
Anglo-Saxons  gave  it  the  name  of  sailing,  which,  like 
the  modern  German  schilling,  is  derived  from  the  verb 
schallen,  to  sound. 

Shinplaster.  An  Americanism  for  a  bank-note.  During 
the  Civil  War  paper  money  was  so  much  depreciated 
in  value  that  its  possessors  could  not  easily  negotiate 
it  at  any  price.  Finding  this  to  be  his  own  case,  an 
old  soldier  philosophically  used  his  bank-notes  as 
plasters  for  a  wounded  shin. 

Ship.  A  tavern  sign  commemorative  of  the  circumnaviga- 
tion of  the  globe  by  Sir  Francis  Drake ;  also  a  technical 
term  in  the  printing  trade  for  the  compositors  working 
together  in  a  particular  room  or  department,  being 
an  abbrevation  of  "  Companionship." 

Shire.  A  portion  of  land  scired  or  sheared  off  under  the 
Saxon  Heptarchy  for  the  creation  of  an  earldom. 

Shoe  Lane.  This  name  has  no  connection  with  shoe- 
makers, or  cordwainers  as  they  were  anciently  called. 
As  an  offshoot  of  Fleet  Street,  the  great  thoroughfare 


330  Shooter— Sick 

of  taverns,  this  was  anciently  "  Show  Lane,"  lined 
with  booths  and  shows  like  a  country  fair. 

Shooter.     An  Americanism  for  a  revolver. 

Shooters'  Hill.  A  corruption  of  "Suitors'  Hall,"  so 
called  from  the  suitors  or  place  hunters  who  came  this 
way  when  Henry  VIII.  had  his  Court  at  Greenwich. 

Shooting  Iron.     A  Far  West  term  for  a  rifle. 

Shop.     Theatrical  slang  for  an  engagement. 

Shop-lifting.  This  phrase  for  abstracting  goods  from  a 
shop  counter  had  its  origin  in  the  printer's  technical 
term  "  Lifting." 

Shoreditch.  All  other  suggested  derivations  notwith- 
standing, this  district  really  received  its  name  from  the 
manor  of  Sir  John  Soerditch,  a  wealthy  citizen,  and  a 
favourite  of  Edward  the  Black  Prince,  by  whose  side 
he  fought  at  Crecy  and  Poitiers. 

Show.     Theatrical  slang  for  a  performance. 

Shrewsbury.     See  "  Shropshire." 

Shropshire.  This  name  expresses  in  a  roundabout  way 
the  shire  of  Shrewsbury,  the  Anglo-Saxon  Scrobbes- 
burgh  that  grew  up  around  an  ancient  castle  among 
the  scrubs  or  shrubs,  softened  by  the  Normans  into 
Sloppesbury^  which  lent  its  name  to  what  is  now 
"Salop,"  and  finally  corrupted  into  Shrewsbury. 

Shrove  Tuesday.  A  corruption  of  "  Shrive  Tuesday  "  when 
all  good  Catholics  confessed  their  sins  in  preparation 
for  receiving  the  blest  ashes  on  the  following  morning. 

Siberia.  The  country  ruled  from  the  ancient  town  of 
Sibir,  the  capital  of  the  Tartars,  and  which  contained 
the  palace  of  the  renowned  Kutsheen  Khan,  the  ruins 
of  which  are  still  visible. 

Sicily.  From  the  Sicu/i,  a  tribe  who  became  masters  of 
the  island,  expelling  the  Sicanii,  its  ancient  inhabitants. 

Sick.  A  word  uniformly  used  throughout  the  United 
States  in  the  place  of  "ill,"  as  in  our  own  country. 
This  is  not  an  Americanism,  but  good  honest  English, 
having  been  introduced  to  the  New  World  by  the 
Pilgrim  Fathers  who  sailed  in  the  Mayflower.     Both 


Sidmouth  Street— Simple  Life    331 

in   the   Bible  and   in    Shakespeare   sick,   not   ill,    is 

employed.     This  is  one  of  the  few  instances  in  which 

the   Americans   have   preserved   a   word  true   to   its 

original  meaning. 
Sidmouth    Street.       After    Lord    Sidmouth,    a    popular 

Minister  at   the  accession  of  George  IV.,  when  this 

street  was  first  built  upon. 
Side  Walk.    An  Americanism  for  the  English  "  pavement " 

and  the  Scottish  "  causeway." 
Siedlitz  Powders.     From  Siedlitz  in  Bohemia,  whence,  like 

the  celebrated  mineral  waters  of  the  same  name,  they 

are  obtained. 
Sienna.     A   pigment  obtained  from  the  native   Terra  di 

Sienna  in  Italy. 
Sign  on.     An  industrial  phrase  for  signing  one's  name  in  a 

book  on  arriving  to  commence  the  day's  work.     The 

like  procedure  at  the  day's  close  is  styled  "Sign  off." 

Silhouette.  After  Etienne  de  Silhouette,  Comptroller  of 
Finance  under  Louis  XV.,  who  was  the  first  to  have 
his  features  outlined  from  a  side  view  on  black  paper. 

Sillery.  A  champagne  produced  from  the  extensive  vine- 
yards of  the  Marquis  de  Sillery. 

Silver  Captain.  The  sobriquet  of  Admiral  Sir  Henry. 
Digby  from  the  large  haul  he  on  15th  October 
1799  made  by  the  capture  of  a  Spanish  treasure 
ship  laden  with  dollars,  his  own  share  of  the  prize 
money  amounting  to  ^40,730,  18s.  This  he  attri- 
buted to  a  fortunate  dream,  in  which  he  repeatedly 
heard  a  voice  exclaim  :  "  Digby  !  Digby  !  steer  to  the 
northward ! " 

Silver-tongued  Sylvester.  John  Sylvester,  the  translator  of 
Du  Barta's  "  Divine  Week  and  Works,"  so  styled  on 
account  of  his  harmonious  verse. 

Simple  Life.  A  term  which  has  come  into  vogue,  both  in 
England  and  America,  since  the  publication  of  the  Rev. 
Charles  Wagner's  remarkable  book  "  The  Simple  Life," 
in  advocacy  of  plain  living,  three  or  four  years  ago. 


332  Single-speech  Hamilton — Skinner  St. 

Single -speech  Hamilton.  The  sobriquet  of  William 
Gerard  Hamilton,  Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer  in 
Ireland.  He  delivered  on  1 3th  November  1775a  speech 
which  electrified  the  House,  but  after  that  memorable 
first  effort  he  never  spoke  again. 

Sing  Small.  A  corruption  of  "Sink  Small,"  meaning  to 
be  lowered  in  the  estimation  of  those  to  whom  one 
has  made  a  vain  boast. 

Sinking  Fund.  One  that  provides  for  the  annual  reduction 
of  a  National  Debt. 

Sinner-saved  Huntingdon.  William  Huntingdon,  the 
theologian  and  preacher,  who,  having  led  a  wild  life 
in  his  youth,  made  amends  for  these  delinquencies  in 
the  full  vigour  of  manhood. 

Sirree.  A  vulgar  American  corruption  of  "  Sir,"  corre- 
sponding to  the  old  English  "  Sirrah.".  Originating 
at  New  York,  it  is  now  quite  a  common  thing  for 
people  in  the  States  generally  to  answer :  "  Yes,  sirree," 
and  "No,  sirree." 

Sise  Lane.  A  corruption  of  St  Osyth's  Lane,  after  an 
ancient  church  in  it,  now  removed. 

Sixteen  String  Jack.  Jack  Rann,  the  highwayman,  hanged 
in  1 79 1,  so  called  from  the  sixteen  tags  he  wore  on 
the  knees  of  his  breeches. 

Six-shooter.  An  Americanism  for  a  six-chambered  re- 
volver. 

Skagerrack.  Expresses  the  crooked  strait  between  the 
Skagen,  the  plural  of  the  Gothic  skaga,  a  promontory, 
between  Jutland  and  Norway. 

Skald.  An  ancient  northern  bard  or  minstrel.  The  word 
is  Scandinavian  for  "poet." 

Skied.  An  artists'  term  for  a  picture  hung  on  the  highest 
row,  just  under  the  ceiling,  at  any  exhibition,  where  no 
one  can  look  at  it  closely. 

Skinner  Street.  Stands  on  land  belonging  to  the  Skinners' 
Company. 


Skylarking — Sloane  Square      333 

Skylarking.  Originally  an  American  seaman's  term  for 
rough  sport  among  the  ship's  rigging  and  tops. 

Sky  Parlor.     An  Americanism  for  an  attic. 

Sky  Pilot.  An  American  naval  expression  for  a  ship's 
chaplain.     The  allusion  is  obvious. 

Sky-scraper.  The  name  given  in  the  United  States  to  a 
building  of  lofty  proportions,  often  running  to  as  many 
as  thirty  storeys.  Viewing  these  from  Brooklyn 
Bridge  it  would  really  seem  as  if  the  New  Yorkers 
were  anxious  to  scour  the  heavens  out  of  their  top 
windows. 

Sky  Sign.  A  structure  on  the  roof  of  a  house  of  business 
for  the  purposes  of  a  bold  advertisement.  This 
Transatlantic  innovation  has  within  the  last  few  years 
been  interdicted  by  order  of  the  London  County 
Council. 

Slacker.  An  Eton  term  for  one  who  never  takes  part  in 
games;  he  cannot  be  coerced,  and  declines  to  exert 
himself  in  any  way. 

Slate  Club.  Originally  a  parochial  thrift  society  whose 
members  met  in  the  schoolroom,  their  contributions 
being  pro  tem  entered  on  slates,  conveniently  at  hand. 

Slick  into  it.  To  do  a  thing  right  away,  never  pausing 
until  it  is  finished.  As  a  variant  of  "  Polish  it  off" 
this  expression  is  rightly  employed,  slick  being  derived 
from  the  German  schlicht,  polished,  clean. 

Sling.  An  American  mixed  drink,  so  called  on  account  of 
the  different  ingredients  slung  into  it. 

Sling  your  Hook.  Originally  an  abbreviated  angler's 
phrase :  "  Sling  your  hook  a  little  farther  along,  and 
then  we  shall  both  have  more  room." 

Slipper.  A  shoe  into  which  the  foot  is  easily  slipped,  more 
particularly  among  the  Orientals,  who  dispense  with  the 
back  leather  clasping  the  heel. 

Sloane  Square.  After  Sir  Hans  Sloane,  the  original  owner 
of  the  estate,  whose  daughter  became  by  marriage  the 
first  Countess  of  Cadogan. 


334  Slope — Snow  Hill 

Slope.  To  run  away  with  expedition,  as  it  were  down  the 
slope  of  a  hill. 

Smile.  An  Americanism  for  a  "drink."  Unlike  the 
common  run  of  Americanisms,  there  is  warranty  for 
the  term.  When  drinking  their  native  beverage, 
"pulque,"  the  Mexicans  look  at  one  another,  and 
smile.  This  custom  has  obtained  with  them  ever 
since  Montezuma  gulped  down  this  tipple  offered  to 
him  by  the  hand  of  his  daughter.     See  "  Cocktail." 

Smithfield.  A  corruption  of  "  Smoothfield,"  a  fine  tract 
of  meadow  land  on  which  mediaeval  tournaments  were 
held,  likewise  horse  races. 


Smith  of  Antwerp.  Quentin  Matsys,  the  celebrated 
painter,  who  began  life  as  a  blacksmith. 

Smalls.      In  theatrical  parlance  "the  small  towns." 

Smart  Set.  Originally  an  Americanism  for  the  exclusive 
fashionable  set  of  Boston  society.  The  term  has 
latterly  travelled  over  to  these  shores,  and  the  Smart 
Set  of  West  End  London  does  not  appear  to  be  beloved 
by  Father  Bernard  Vaughan. 

Snapshot.  An  Americanism  for  a  photograph  taken 
instantaneously  with  a  portable  camera.  "  Snap  "  is, 
however,  a  good  old  English  word.  We  speak  of  a 
person  being  "  snapped  off"  by  disease — i.e.  carried  off 
suddenly. 

Sneesh-box.     Scottish  for  a  snuff-box. 

Snob.  This  term  arose  out  of  the  expressions  on  the  part 
of  the  vulgar  whenever  a  conceited  person  who  aped 
gentility  was  encountered:  "He's  a  nob,"  "He's  not 
a  nob,"  or  "  He  wants  to  make  people  believe  he's  a 
nob,"  until  they  resulted  in  the  simple  exclamation 
"  Snob."  Such  a  word  having  once  been  established 
as  the  antithesis  of  "  Nob,"  a  shoemaker  merited  the 
description  of  a  Snob  because  his  work  was  confined 
to  the  pedal  extremities  instead  of  the  person's  head. 

Snow  Hill.  A  corruption  of  "  Snore  Hill,"  so  called 
because  travellers  by  the  stage-coach  from  Guildford 


Soaker— Soho  335 

were  generally  snoring  by  the  time  they  reach  their 
destination  at  the  hill  foot,  "The  Saracen's  Head." 

Soaker.  Both  in  England  and  America  this  term  denotes 
a  habitual  drunkard,  soaked  in  liquor. 

Soane  Museum.  This  magnificent  but  little  known  collec- 
tion of  works  of  Art  was  acquired  by  Sir  John  Soane, 
the  antiquary,  at  his  residence  in  Lincoln's  Inn  Fields, 
where,  subject  to  certain  seasonal  restrictions,  it  may 
be  visited  by  anyone. 

Sociable.  An  open  carriage  with  two  seats,  thus  admitting 
of  its  riders  being  face  to  face. 

Socialists.  A  term  of  wide  meaning,  but  according  to  its 
modern  acceptation  synonymous  with  "Levellers,"  the 
adopted  name  of  the  malcontents  of  the  time  of  Charles 
I.,  who  sought  to  reduce  society  to  a  common  level. 

Society  Islands.  Named  by  Captain  Cook  in  compliment 
to  the  Royal  Society. 

Society  of  Jesus.     See  "  Jesuits." 

Socinians.  The  followers  of  Lselius  Socinus,  an  Italian 
theologian  of  the  sixteenth  century.  They  held  the 
same  views  as  the  modern  "  Unitarians." 

Sock  and  Buskin.  The  drama,  alluding  to  the  low  and 
high  shoe  or  sandal  worn  respectively  by  comic  and 
tragic  actors  in  the  theatre  of  the  ancients.  The  soccus 
was  a  simple  shoe,  whereas  the  brossquin,  a  term  re- 
motely derived  from  the  Greek  bursa,  a  hide,  extended 
to  the  knee,  and  was,  moreover,  two  or  three  inches 
thick  in  the  sole  to  increase  the  height  of  the  performer. 

Sod.  A  north  country  term  for  a  mean,  ignorant  fellow, 
no  better  than  a  lout  or  clodhopper,  in  allusion  to  the 
sod  of  agriculture. 

Soft  Soap.  Flattery,  because,  unlike  the  ordinary  kind, 
soft  soap  is  easily  rubbed  in. 

Soho.  A  name  pleasantly  recalling  the  days  when,  prior 
to  the  sixteenth  century,  the  whole  of  London  west- 
ward of  Drury  Lane  was  open  country.     So  ho  was  the 


336  Soiree — Southgate 

cry  of  the  huntsmen  when  a  hare  broke  cover,  expres- 
sing the  Norman-French  for  "  See  !  Hie  !  (after  him)." 

Soiree.  A  sociable  evening  party,  so  called  from  the 
French  sot'r,  evening. 

Soldier  of  Fortune.  A  soldier  without  fortune  who  seeks 
to  make  one  by  enlisting  in  any  service  which  holds 
out  the  prospect  of  good  pay. 

Solid  Straight.     Another  name  for  a  "Straight  Drink." 

Somerset.  Described  in  Anglo-Saxon  days  as  Suthmorset, 
the  "South  Moor  Settlement." 

Somerset  House.  Covers  the  site  of  the  palatial  residence 
of  Edward  Seymour,  Duke  of  Somerset,  the  Lord 
Protector  of  Edward  VI.  On  the  sequestration  of  his 
estates  in  1552  this  passed  to  the  Crown,  and  became 
a  virtual  royal  residence.  Here  the  body  of  James  I. 
lay  in  state;  here  too  the  queens  of  Charles  I.  and 
Charles  II.  took  up  their  abode.  The  present  edifice 
dates  from  1766. 

Somers   Town.     From   Lord    Somers,   the  owner  of  the 

estate. 
Sorbonne.      After  its  founder  Robert  de  Sorbon,  a  canon 

ofCambraiin  1252. 

Souchong.  A  species  of  black  tea  called  by  the  Chinese 
se-ou-ckong,  "  small,  good  quality." 

Soudan.  Properly  "Suden,"  from  the  Arabic  Belad-ez- 
Suden,  "district  of  the  blacks." 

Southampton.  The  south  town  on  the  Ant  or  Hantone. 
See  "  Hampshire." 

Southampton  Buildings.  Marks  the  site  of  Southampton 
House,  in  which  lived  and  died  the  last  Earl  of  South- 
hampton, Lord  Treasurer  of  Charles  II. 

Southampton  Street.  After  one  of  the  family  titles  of  the 
Duke  of  Bedford,  the  great  ground  landlord. 

South  Audley  Street.     See  "  Audley  Street." 
Southgate.      See  "  New  Southgate." 


South  wark — Spaniards  337 

Southwark.  A  name  which  points  to  the  Danish  rule  in 
England.  The  earliest  London  bridge  of  wood  having 
been  built  in  1014,  or  two  years  before  Canute  seized  up- 
on the  throne,  this  monarch  took  up  his  residence  on 
the  south  bank  of  the  Thames,  and  holding  his  Court 
there,  styled  it  Sydrike,  the  Norse  for  "South  King- 
dom." His  successors  also  affected  the  Surrey  side ; 
as  we  know,  Hardicanute  died  of  a  surfeit  at  Lambeth. 
By  the  Anglo-Saxons  under  Edward  the  Confessor 
the  Danish  Sydrike  was  rendered  Suthwerk,  or  South 
Fortification,  whence  we  have  derived  the  name  in  its 
present  form. 

Southwick  Crescent.  After  Southwick  Park,  the  country 
seat  of  the  Thistlewaytes,  at  one  time  joint  lessees  of 
the  manor  of  Paddington. 

Sovereign.  So  called  because  when  first  struck,  in  the  reign 
of  Henry  VIII.,  this  gold  coin  had  upon  it  a  represen- 
tation of  that  sovereign  in  his  royal  robes. 

Sovereign  Pontiff.  The  superior  title  of  the  Pope.  See 
"  Pontiff." 

Spa.  From  the  town  of  the  same  name  (which  expresses 
the  Flemish  for  "fountain")  in  Belgium,  the  fashion- 
able Continental  resort  during  the  seventeenth  century. 

Spa  Fields.  From  an  ancient  public  resort  known  as 
the  "London  Spa,"  in  connection  with  a  medicinal 
well  discovered  during  the  thirteenth  century.  An 
account  of  the  "  Spa  Fields  Chapel,"  originally  a 
theatre,  purchased  by  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon,  the 
name  has  survived  to  our  own  time. 

Spagnoletto.     See  "  Lo  Spagnoletto." 

Spain.  Called  by  the  Cathaginians  "Hispania,"  from  the 
Punic  span,  rabbit,  on  account  of  the  wild  rabbits 
which  abounded  in  the  peninsula.     See  "Iberia." 

Spaniards.  This  famous  "house  of  call"  for  pedestrians 
across  Highgate  Heath  was  originally  the  private  resi- 
dence of  the  Spanish  Ambassador  to  the  Court  of 
James  I. 


338  Spaniel — Spelling  Bee 

Spaniel.  From  Hispaniola,  the  old  name  of  Hayti  Island, 
in  the  West  Indies,  whence  this  breed  of  Spanish  dog 
was  introduced  to  Europe. 

Spanish  Main.  The  ancient  designation  of  the  waters 
around  the  West  Indian  Islands  in  the  Caribbean  Sea 
that  rightly  belonged  to  Spain. 

Spanish  Place.  From  the  residence  of  the  Spanish 
Ambassador  during  the  eighteenth  century.  The 
private  chapel  attached  to  this  mansion  formed  the 
nucleus  of  the  present  Catholic  church. 

Sparking.  An  Americanism  for  "courting."  There  may 
be  warranty  for  this  in  relation  to  "the  spark  of 
affection." 

Spa  Eoad.  From  a  long-forgotten  spa  or  mineral  ^well  in 
this  portion  of  Bermondsey. 

Spa  Water.  Natural  mineral  waters  drawn  from  a  "  Spa  " 
or  well. 

Speaker.  The  official  designation  of  the  President  of 
the  House  of  Commons,  to  whom  technically,  the 
Members  address  themselves,  though  as  a  matter  of 
fact,  they  address  the  country  at  large  through  the 
medium  of  the  Press.  Since  he  never  speaks  him- 
self, except  to  rule  a  point  of  order,  his  title  is  a 
misnomer. 

Spencer.  A  short  overjacket  introduced  by  the  Earl  of 
Spencer.  This  nobleman  made  a  wager  that  he  would 
set  a  new  fashion  by  appearing  abroad  in  any  style  of 
garment,  however  hideous  it  might  be.  He  won  his 
bet,  for  "  Spencers  "  became  popular. 

Specs.     Short  for  "spectacles." 

Spelling  Bee.  The  name  given  to  a  competitive  examina- 
tion, in  spelling  in  American  schools,  and  later 
introduced  in  the  cities  as  a  fashionable  pastime. 
From  the  States  it  reached  England  about  a  quarter  of 
a  century  ago.  The  term  "Bee"  is  essentially  Trans- 
atlantic, being  employed  in  the  sense  of  a  "hive"  for 
any  assemblage  of  workers — e.g.  "a  Sewing  Bee." 


Spindle  City— Spouting  339 

Spindle  City.  Lowell  in  Massachusetts,  so  called  on  ac- 
count of  its  numerous  cotton  factories. 

Spinet.  An  early  form  of  pianoforte,  so  called  because  it 
was  played  upon  exclusively  by  unmarried  females,  as 
a  relaxation  from  the  labours  of  the  spindle. 

Spinster.  A  maiden  lady,  so  called  from  the  distaff  or 
spindle,  the  regular  occupation  of  an  unmarried  female. 

Spiritualist.  One  who  cherishes  a  belief  in  the  power  of 
communicating  with  departed  spirits  through  the  in- 
strumentality of  a  Medium. 

Spitalfields.  The  derivation  of  this  name  is  generally 
given  as  from  an  ancient  priory  of  "St  Mary  of  the 
Spittle."  This  is  wrong.  There  may  have  been  such 
a  priory,  but  if  so,  like  the  present  parish  church,  its 
designation  arose  out  of  the  "spital,"  or  hospital  in 
the  sense  of  an  almshouse,  founded  in  the  fields  for 
the  poor  by  Walter  Brune  and  his  wife  during  the 
reign  of  Richard  Coeur  de  Lion. 

Spithead.  This  famous  roadstead,  so  eminently  adapted 
for  naval  reviews,  received  its  name  from  being 
situated  at  the  head  of  the  "  spit "  or  sandbank  which 
extends  along  the  coast  for  three  miles. 

Spitzbergen.  Danish  for  "sharp -pointed  mountains," 
relative  to  the  mountain  peaks  in  these  islands. 

Spook.  Expresses  the  Dutch  for  "ghost."  Introduced 
to  the  United  States  by  the  early  settlers  of  New 
York,  this  term  has  obtained  currency  on  both  sides 
of  the  Atlantic  in  connection  with  Spiritualism. 

Spooning.  This  word  is  a  play  on  "billing  and  cooing." 
Courting  couples  in  the  act  of  whispering  "soft 
nothings "  have  their  mouths  in  such  close  contact 
that  it  resembles  the  manner  of  a  mother  bird  feeding 
her  young  brood. 

Sporting  Women.     An  Americanism  for  "gay  women." 

Spouting.  Colloquial  for  public  speaking,  because  the 
orator  indulges  in  a  constant  flow  of  rhetoric,  like  water 
issuing  from  a  pump  spout. 


340  Sprat  Day — Staines 

Sprat  Day.  9th  November,  the  opening  of  the  London 
sprat-selling  season. 

Spread  Eagle.  An  inn  sign  adopted  from  the  arms  of 
Germany,  indicative  of  the  fact  that  the  wines  of  that 
country  were  to  be  had  on  the  premises. 

Spreads  himself.  Said  of  one  in  America  who  makes  an 
ostentatious  display  of  self-conceit.  The  allusion  is 
to  a  peacock  spreading  its  tail  feathers  to  their  utmost 
capacity. 

Spring  Gardens.  So  called  because  at  this  north-eastern 
entrance  to  St  James's  Park  unwitting  pedestrians 
were  suddenly  drenched  by  a  spray  of  water  through 
stepping  on  a  hidden  spring.  This  was  considered 
fine  sport  for  the  gallants  who  looked  on  during  the 
Restoration  period. 

Spring  Heel  Jack.  The  sobriquet  of  the  eccentric 
Marquis  of  Waterford,  who  about  a  century  ago 
cultivated  the  habit  of  frightening  people  after  night- 
fall by  springing  upon  them  out  of  obscure  corners  and 
alleys.  It  was  said  that  terror  of  the  streets  had  steel 
springs  fitted  to  his  heels  for  the  purpose. 

Square  Meal.  An  Americanism  for  a  full  meal,  which  can 
only  be  enjoyed  at  the  table,  in  contradistinction  to  a 
snack  at  a  luncheon  bar. 

Squatter.  Literally  one  who  squats  down  on  land  to 
which  he  has  no  legal  title. 

Squaw.     Alonquin  for  an  Indian  woman. 

Stafford.  The  county  town  of  the  shire  derived  this  name 
from  the  ancient  mode  of  fording  the  River  Sow,  upon 
which  it  stands,  by  means  of  staves  or  stilts. 

Stage-coach.  So  called  from  the  stages  or  degrees  of  the 
whole  journey,  at  each  of  which  the  coach  pulled  up 
to  change  horses  and  refresh  the  travellers. 

Staines.  From  the  Saxon  stane,  stone,  the  boundary  mark 
set  up  beside  the  Thames,  bearing  date  1280,  and  the 
inscription :    "  God   preserve  the   City   of    London." 


Stand  Sam— Stationer  341 

This  defined  the  western  limits  of  jurisdiction  claimed 
by  the  Thames  Conservancy  or  Water  Board. 

Stand  Sam.  An  Americanism  for  to  "  stand  treat,"  which 
originated  among  the  soldiers  during  the  Civil  War. 
When  billeted  upon  the  people  they  demanded  liquor 
by  wholesale,  saying  that  "  Uncle  Sam  "  would  pay  for 
it,  and  it  was  everyone's  duty  to  stand  Sam.  See 
"  Uncle  Sam." 

Stanhope.  An  open  carriage  named  in  compliment  to  the 
Earl  of  Stanhope,  author  and  politician. 

Stanhope  Gate.  This  entrance  to  Hyde  Park,  in  Park 
Lane,  received  its  name  from  Philip  Stanhope,  Earl  of 
Chesterfield,  residing  at  Chesterfield  House  close  by. 

Staples  Inn.  Properly  "Staplers'  Inn,"  the  ancient  Hall 
of  the  Woolstaplers,  styled  Merchants  of  the  Staple. 

Star  and  Garter.  An  inn  or  tavern  sign  commemorative 
of  the  institution  of  the  Order  of  the  Garter  by 
Edward  III. 

Star  Chamber.  This  historic  court  received  its  name  not 
from  the  stars  decorating  the  ceiling,  as  generally 
stated,  but  because  it  was  the  ancient  depository  of  the 
Starra,  or  Jewish  records,  at  the  order  of  Richard  I. 

Start  your  Boots.  An  Americanism  for  "Be  off!" 
"Walkaway." 

Starvation  Dundas.  The  sobriquet  of  Henry  Dundas, 
created  Lord  Melville,  owing  to  his  constant  repetition 
of  the  word  "  Starvation  "  in  the  course  of  a  debate  on 
American  affairs  in  1775. 

State  of  Spain.  New  Jersey.  After  the  battle  of 
Waterloo  Joseph  Bonaparte,  the  brother  of 
Napoleon  I.,  fled  to  New  Jersey,  and,  settling  on  an 
estate  at  Borderstown,  gathered  so  many  Frenchmen 
and  Spaniards  around  him  that  the  Philadelphians 
regarded  the  people  of  this  state  generally  as  Spaniards 
and  foreigners.  At  this  time  Joseph  Bonaparte  was 
nominally  King  of  Naples  and  of  Spain. 

Stationer.      This  term  was  not  derived  from  "  Stationery,'' 


342     Steelyard — Stick  a  Pin  there 

since  the  latter  grew  out  of  the  former.  Ancient  so- 
called  booksellers  were  of  two  kinds :  the  itinerants, 
and  the  stallholders  in  open  market.  Both  dealt  in 
such  books  as  were  known  at  the  time — hornbooks  and 
the  like — but  principally  in  writing  materials,  and  as  the 
stationery  booksellers  had  a  more  varied  assortment 
than  the  pedlars,  pen,  ink,  and  paper  eventually 
received  the  name  of  "  stationery,"  and  their  vendors 
that  of  "stationers." 

Steelyard.  The  name  given  to  a  weighing  machine  on 
which  a  single  weight  is  moved  along  a  graduated 
beam.  This  has  no  reference  to  a  "  yard  "  measure, 
but  to  the  ancient  Steelyard  near  London  Bridge, 
where  the  German  merchants  of  old  landed,  weighed, 
and  sold  their  fine  steel. 

Steeplechase.  This  term  originated  in  a  race  by  a  party  of 
unsuccessful  fox  hunters,  who  agreed  to  run  a  race  to 
the  village  church,  the  steeple  of  which  was  visible  a 
couple  of  miles  away,  the  one  who  touched  its  stones 
with  his  whip  first  being  declared  the  winner. 

Stepney.  A  corruption  of  "  Stebenhithe,"  after  the  owner 
of  a  hithe  or  wharf  on  this  portion  of  the  Thames  bank 
in  Anglo-Saxon  days. 

Sterling  Money.  That  originally  coined  in  this  country  by 
the  "Esterlings,"  the  name  given  to  the  people  of  the 
Hanse  Towns  in  the  eastern  portion  of  Germany,  at 
the  invitation  of  King  John.  The  purity  of  the 
Esterling  coinage  was  above  reproach,  whereas  that  of 
England  anterior  to  the  mission  of  the  Hansa  mer- 
chants to  reform  it  had  long  become  debased. 

Sterling  Silver.     Genuine  silver  in  its  natural  purity  as 

opposed   to   "German   Silver,"  an  alloy   of  copper, 

nickel,  and  zinc  first  made  in  Germany.  See 
"  Sterling  Money.' 

Stick  a  Pin  there.  An  Americanism  for  "  make  a  note  of 
it  as  a  reminder."  Dressmakers  always  stick  a  pin  to 
mark  the  place  where  material  is  to  be  stitched  or 
taken  in. 


Stiletto — Stormy  Petrel  343 

Stiletto.  Expresses  the  diminutive  of  the  Italian  stilo>  a 
dagger. 

Stingo.     See  "  Yorkshire  Stingo." 

Stock.  This  flower  received  its  name  from  the  circumstance 
that  it  was  largely  sold  in  the  Stocks  Market  (so 
called  on  account  of  a  pair  of  stocks  that  stood  there), 
on  part  of  the  site  of  which  the  Mansion  House  was 
erected  in  1737. 

Stock  Exchange.  For  the  application  of  the  term  "  Stock  " 
to  money,  see  "  Government  Stock." 

Stockwell.  From  an  ancient  well  discovered  in  a  stoke  or 
wood. 

Stoke  Newington.  Expresses  the  new  town  in  the 
meadow  adjacent  to  a  stoke,  or  wood,  in  reference  to 
"  Enfield  Chase."     See  "  New  Southgate." 

Stonecutter  Street.  From  the  lapidaries  who  congregated 
here  in  ancient  days. 

Stone   Jug.     See  "In  the  Jug." 

Stones   End.     See  "Stony  Street." 

Stonewall  Jackson.  This  sobriquet  of  General  Jackson 
originated  with  General  Lee  during  the  American 
Civil  War.  Rallying  his  troops  after  the  battle  of 
Bull  Run,  he  exclaimed,  pointing  in  the  direction  with 
his  sword :  "  There  is  Jackson,  standing  like  a  stone 
wall!" 

Stony  Street.  So  called  from  the  nature  of  this  portion 
of  the  great  Roman  highway  to  Dover,  in  continuation 
of  "Watling  Street,"  north  of  the  Thames. 

Store.     An  Americanism  for  a  shop  or  warehouse. 

Storey's  Gate.  Marks  the  site  of  the  residence  of  Edward 
Storey,  keeper  of  the  royal  aviary  of  Charles  II.  in 
that  portion  of  St  James's  Park  known  as  Birdcage 
Walk. 

Stormy  Petrel.  A  sea-bird,  the  appearance  of  which  is 
regarded  as  a  portent  of  storms.  Its  Italian  name, 
Petrillo,  expresses  the  diminutive  of  Peter,  in  allusion 


344       Storthing — Stratton  Street 

to  St  Peter,  who  walked  on  the  sea,  because,  instead  of 
flying  in  the  air,  this  bird  habitually  skims  on  the 
surface  of  the  water. 

Storthing.  From  the  Norse  stor,  great,  and  things  court, 
the  Norwegian  and  Swedish  House  of  Assembly. 

Stout.  This  black  aleoholic  beverage  is  so  called  because 
it  contains  more  body  and  nourishment  than  ale  or 
beer. 

Stradivarius.  A  violin  made  by  the  celebrated  Antonio 
Stradivari  of  Cremona;  generally  abbreviated  into 
"Stead." 

Straight  Drink.  An  Americanism  for  a  drink  of  pure, 
undiluted  spirit. 

Strand.  The  name  given  to  the  north  bank  of  the 
Thames  (from  the  Norse  strond,  shore,  border)  in 
days  when,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  princely  houses 
dotted  here  and  there,  the  whole  of  this  portion  of 
London  was  open  country. 

Straphanger.  A  term  which  has  come  into  vogue 
since  the  introduction  of  electrified  railways,  the 
trains  being  so  crowded  in  the  morning  and 
evening  that  straps  are  provided  for  standing 
passengers  to  cling  to  en  route. 

Strasburg.  This  name  was  first  heard  of  in  the  fifth 
century,  expressing  the  German  for  a  fortified  town  on 
the  strass  or  strata,  the  great  Roman  highway  into 
Gaul. 

Stratford.  From  the  Latin  strata,  road,  way ;  that  portion 
of  the  old  Roman  highway  where  the  River  Lea  had  to 
be  forded.  In  Chaucer's  time  this  little  town,  situated 
a  long  distance  out  of  London,  was  described  as 
" Stratford-a-te-Bow,"  in  allusion  to  "Bow  Bridge." 

Stratford  Place.  After  Edward  Stratford,  the  second 
Lord  Aldborough,  who  leased  the  ground  for  building 
purposes  from  the  Corporation  of  the  City  of  London 
in  1775. 

Stratton   Street.     After  Lord    Berkeley  of  Stratton,  the 


Strenuous  Life — Subtle  Doctor    345 

owner  of  the  district  now  comprised  in  Mayfair,  temp. 
Charles  I. 

Strenuous  Life.     The  antithesis  of  the  "  Simple  Life." 

Stuarts.  This  dynasty  received  its  name  from  the  fact  that 
Walter,  the  Lord  High  Steward  of  Scotland,  married 
the  daughter  of  King  Robert  the  Bruce.  Since  this 
Walter  was  the  sixth  of  his  line  honoured  with  such  a 
position,  he  was  said  to  belong  to  the  Stewards,  which, 
eventually  corrupted  into  "Stuarts,"  resulted  in  a 
family  name. 

Stumped.     To  have  no  money  left.     See  "Stump  up." 

Stump  Orator.  One  who  harangues  a  crowd  from  the 
stump  of  a  tree. 

Stump  Speech.  A  term  popularised  in  this  country 
through  the  minstrel  entertainment,  being  an  ex- 
tempore speech  delivered  to  the  Negroes  of  the 
southern  states  from  the  stump  of  a  tree. 

Stump  the  Country.  Colloquial  for  an  electioneering 
campaign,  derived  from  the  practice  of  political  agents 
in  the  United  States  addressing  the  people  at  large 
from  a  convenient  tree  stump. 

Stump  up.  Originally  an  Americanism  for  "put  down 
your  money."  After  delivering  a  speech  for  a  benevo- 
lent object  the  "  Stump  Orator "  stepped  down,  and 
the  people  around  laid  their  contributions  on  the  tree 
stump. 

Suabia.      See  "Servia." 

Sub.  Short  for  "subsidise,"  or  to  draw  something  in 
advance  of  one's  salary. 

Sub  Rosa.  "  Under  the  Rose" — i.e.  strictly  between  our- 
selves. It  was  the  custom  of  the  Teutons  when  they 
assembled  at  a  feast,  to  suspend  a  rose  from  the  ceiling 
as  a  reminder  that  whatever  might  be  said  concerning 
their  absent  friends  should  not  be  repeated. 

Subtle  Doctor.  Duns  Scotus,  the  schoolman  and  prince 
of  metaphysicians,  whose  subtlety  of  reasoning  has 
never  been  equalled  in  ancient  or  modern  times. 


346  Sucked  in— Sunflower 

Sucked  in.  An  expression  derived  from  U  Buying  a  pig 
in  a  poke."     See  "  Let  the  Cat  out  of  the  Bag." 

Sucker  State.  Illinois,  so  called  from  the  Galena  lead 
miners,  who  disappeared  during  the  winter  and  returned 
to  Galena  in  the  spring,  when  the  sucker-fish  in  the 
Fevre  River  abounded.  The  people  of  this  state  are 
accordingly  styled  "  Suckers." 

Suffolk.     A  corruption  of  "South  Folk,"  the  inhabitants  of 

the  southern  division  of  East  Anglia. 
Suffolk  Lane.     From  the  ancient  town  house  of  the  Dukes 

of  Suffolk. 

Suffolk  Street.  From  Suffolk  House,  the  residence  of  the 
Earls  of  Suffolk  in  former  days. 

Suffragette.  If  this  latter-day  term  possesses  any  etymo- 
logical significance  whatever,  it  expresses  the  diminu- 
tive of  one  who  claims  the  suffrage  or  the  right,  from 
the  Latin  suffragio,  to  vote.  A  suffragette  is,  in  brief, 
a  woman  who  ought  to  know  better.  Eager  to  take 
upon  herself  the  responsibilities  of  citizenship  on  a 
common  footing  with  the  male  orders  of  creation,  she 
cannot  but  shirk  those  which  rightly  belong  to  her 
own  state. 

Sulky.  A  two-wheeled  carriage  for  a  single  person,  so 
called  from  the  popular  idea  at  the  time  of  its  intro- 
duction that  anyone  who  wished  to  ride  alone  could  not 
be  otherwise  than  morose  and  sulky  in  his  disposition. 

Sumatra.     From  the  Arabic  Stmafra,  "happy  land." 

Sumner  Street.  After  Dr  Sumner,  Bishop  of  Winchester, 
one  of  the  last  occupants  of  Winchester  House  in  this 
neighbourhood. 

Sun.     An  inn  sign  after  the  heraldic  device  of  Richard  II. 

Sunday.  The  first  day  of  the  week,  dedicated  in  the 
Scandinavian  mythology  to  sun-worship. 

Sun-down.      An  Americanism  for  "  sunset." 
Sunflower.      So  called  from  the  form  and  colour  of  its 
flower.     See  "  Heliotrope." 


Sunnites— Swan  with  two  Necks    347 

Sunnites.  The  orthodox  Mohammedans,  who  accept  the 
Sunna,  or  collective  traditions,  equally  with  the  Koran. 

Sunset   Land.     Arizona,  on  account  of  its  glorious  sunsets. 

Supers.  In  theatrical  parlance  short  for  "supernumer- 
aries," those  who  form  the  stage  crowds,  but  have  no 
individual  lines  to  speak. 

Supper.  A  term  which  has  survived  the  changes  of  time. 
We  still  invite  a  friend  to  "sup"  with  us,  but  the 
repast  is  more  or  less  a  substantial  one.  Anciently 
the  last  meal  of  the  day  consisted  only  of  soup. 

Surrey.  From  the  Anglo-Saxon  Suth-rey,  south  of  the 
river — i.e.  the  Thames. 

Surrey  Street.  After  the  town  mansion  and  grounds  of  the 
Howards,  Dukes  of  Norfolk  and  Earls  of  Arundel 
and  Surrey. 

Suspenders.     An  Americanism  for  trouser  braces. 

Sussex.  The  territory  of  the  Suth-seaxe,  or  South  Saxons, 
under  the  Heptarchy. 

Sutton  Place.  After  Thomas  Sutton,  founder  of  the 
Charter  House,  whom  the  good  folk  of  Hackney  were 
proud  to  number  among  their  residents  on  this  spot. 

Swallow  Street.  It  is  difficult  to  imagine  that  this  once 
merited  the  name  of  "Slough  Street,"  on  account 
of  its  miry  condition  j  but  such  is  the  fact. 

Swan  Alley.  From  the  ancient  town  house  of  the  Beau- 
champs,  whose  crest  was  a  swan. 

Swan-Upping.  The  name  given  from  time  immemorial 
by  the  Vintners'  Company  to  their  annual  up-Thames 
visitation  of  the  swans  belonging  to  them  for  the 
purpose  of  marking  their  bills  with  two  nicks,  by  way  of 
distinguishing  them  from  the  royal  swans,  that  have 
five  nicks. 

Swan  with  two  Necks.  An  ancient  London  inn  sign, 
corrupted  from  "The  Swan  with  two  Nicks,"  in 
compliment  to  the  Vintners'  Company.  See  "Swan- 
Upping." 


348       Sweating — Sworn  Brothers 

Sweating.  A  word  used  in  the  original  Biblical  sense, 
and  applied  to  the  unhealthy  conditions  which  obtain 
among  the  denizens  of  the  East  End  of  London, 
specifically  the  Jewish  tailors,  numbers  of  whom  work 
together  in  the  foetid  atmosphere  of  a  single  small 
room. 

Swedenborgians.  The  followers  of  Emmanuel  Swedenborg, 
the  Swedish  mystic.  Prior  to  17 19,  when  his  family 
became  ennobled,  his  real  name  was  Svedborg. 

Swedish  Nightingale.  Jenny  Lind  Goldschmidt,  the  rage 
of  musical  London,  who  died  in  1887. 

Sweepstake.  Money  staked  on  a  race  by  different  persons, 
the  fortunate  winner  among  whom  takes  the  whole 
amount,  literally  at  one  sweep. 

Sweetbriar.     Expresses  a  "  fragrant  thorn." 

Sweetheart.  A  corruption  of  "  Sweetard,"  the  suffix  ard 
expressing  the  intensitive  in  many  class  names,  such 
as  "Dotard,"  "Bastard,"  etc. 

Swell.  Slang  for  one  of  the  upper  classes,  no  doubt 
suggested  by  the  phrase:  "The  bloated  aristocracy." 
Also  applied  to  an  overdressed  person  puffed  out  with 
the  idea  of  his  own  importance. 

Switches.  An  Americanism  for  ladies'  hair  curlers,  fringes, 
and  other  hirsute  appendages. 

Switzerland.  The  English  form  of  the  Austrian  Schwyz 
and  German  Schweitz,  originally  the  name  of  the 
three  forest  cantons  whose  people  threw  off  the  Austrian 
yoke  and  asserted  the  independence  of  the  whole 
country. 

Switzerland  of  America.  West  Virginia,  so  called  on 
account  of  its  mountains. 

Sworn  Brothers.  An  ancient  legal  phrase  signifying  that 
two  friends  had  entered  into  a  solemn  compact  to  lend 
mutual  aid  and  protection  and  share  each  other's 
fortunes.     This  custom  was  of  Scandinavian  origin. 


Sydenham — Take  a  Rise  out  of  Him    349 

Sydenham.      Expresses   the  home  or  family  settlement  in 

the  south. 
Symmetrion  Girl.     See  "  Sandow  Girl." 


Tabard.  The  famous  inn  sign  in  Southwark  immortalised 
by  Chaucer's  "Canterbury  Pilgrims,"  from  the  ancient 
tunic  with  wide  flap  sleeves  still  worn  by  the  heralds. 

Tableaux  Vivants.  French  for  "living  pictures,"  specifi- 
cally the  realisation  of  a  celebrated  painting  or  a 
scene  from  history  by  a  group  of  persons. 

Table  d'H6te.  Most  people  are  under  the  impression 
that  this  term  means  a  dinner  as  served  at  a  hotel. 
This  is  erroneous.  Its  literal  signification  is  "the 
table  of  the  host."  Until  quite  modern  days  a  traveller 
who  desired  to  be  served  with  a  meal  at  an  inn  had  to 
take  it  with  the  landlord  at  his  own  table. 

Taboo.  Strictly  speaking,  there  is  no  such  word  as 
"  tabooed,"  yet  we  generally  find  it  employed  in  the 
place  of  "  taboo."  The  latter  is  the  European  render- 
ing of  the  Polynesian  tapu,  signifying  a  thing  reserved 
or  consecrated  to  the  use  of  one  person.  For  a  South 
Sea  Islander  to  exclaim  tapu  when  he  sees  anything 
that  he  fancies,  is  tantamount  to  saying  "  I  claim  this 
thing ;  anyone  else  who  touches  it  shall  die."  Amongst 
ourselves  a  subject  which  is  taboo  must  not  be 
discussed. 

Taffy.  The  generic  name  for  a  Welshman,  corrupted 
from  Davy,  which  is  short  for  David,  the  most  common 
Christian  name  of  the  country,  in  honour  of  St  David. 

Tagus.       The  Phoenician  for  "  river  of  fish." 

Tailor.  From  the  French  tailleur^  based  upon  the  verb 
tailler,  to  cut. 

Take  a  Back  Seat.  An  Americanism  for  "You  have 
outdone  me;  I'll  retire  from  the  front  row." 

Take  a  Rise   out  of  Him.      To  take  an  undue  advan- 


350    Takes  the  Cake— Tammany  Ring 

tage,  to  benefit  by  a  mean  action.  This  originated  in 
fly-fishing ;  when  a  fish  sees  the  fly  held  out  of  the 
water  it  rises  to  seize  the  coveted  prey,  and  is  caught 
itself. 

Takes  the  Cake.  An  expression  derived  from  the  Cake 
Walking  competitions  of  the  Negroes  in  the  southern 
states  of  the  American  Union.  A  cake  is  placed  on 
the  ground,  and  the  competitors,  male  and  female,  walk 
around  it  in  couples.  Those  who  disport  themselves 
most  gracefully  take  the  cake  as  their  prize. 

Take    your    Hook.     See  "  Sling  your  Hook." 

Talbot.  An  inn  sign  in  compliment  to  the  Earls  of 
Shrewsbury. 

Talbotype.  A  process  of  photography,  by  means  of  the 
Camera  Obscura,  invented  by  Fox  Talbot  in  1839. 

Talking  Shop.  The  nickname  for  the  House  of  Commons. 
See  "  Parliament." 

Tally  Ho!  From  the  Norman  hunting  cry  Taillis  au 
("To  the  coppice"),  raised  when  the  stag  made  for  its 
native  place  of  safety. 

Tallyman.  One  who  supplies  goods  on  the  weekly  instal- 
ment system,  so  called  originally  from  the  acknowledg- 
ments for  payments  that  he  gave  to  his  customers 
having  to  "tally"  or  agree  with  the  entries  in  his 
book.  Why  such  a  one  should  be  ashamed  of  his  old- 
time  designation,  and  now  style  himself  a  "Credit 
Draper,"  can  only  be  explained  on  the  ground  that  the 
tallyman  is  in  bad  odour  with  the  husbands  of  the 
guileless  women  whom  he  systematically  overcharges. 
See  "  Government  Stock." 

Tammany  Ring.  The  name  given  to  certain  officials  of 
the  Democratic  party  in  New  York  who  in  187 1  were 
punished  for  having  during  a  long  series  of  years 
plundered  the  people  wholesale.  Tammany  Hall 
was  the  place  where  they  held  their  meetings.  This 
was  originally  the  headquarters  of  a  benevolent  society, 
but  it  degenerated  into  a  political  club.     By  way  of 


Taming  the  Alps — Tart  351 

accounting  for  the  designation,  it  may  be  added  that 
Tammany  or  Tammenund  was  the  name  of  a  famous 
Indian  chief  of  the  Delaware  tribe,  greatly  beloved  by 
his   people. 

Taming  the  Alps.  A  phrase  which  has  lately  come  into 
vogue  through  the  popular  solicitude  to  prevent  in- 
trepid amateurs  from  climbing  the  Alps  without  the 
assistance  of  local  guides. 

Tantalise.  A  word  based  upon  the  fable  of  Tantalus,  a 
son  of  Jupiter,  who,  because  he  betrayed  his  father's 
secrets,  was  made  to  stand  up  to  his  chin  in  water, 
with  branches  of  luscious  fruit  over  his  head,  but 
when  he  wished  to  drink  or  to  eat  the  water  and  the 
fruit  receded  from  him. 

Tapestry.  From  the  French  tapisserie,  based  on  the 
Latin  tapes ,  a  carpet. 

Tapster.  The  old  name  for  a  tavern-keeper  or  his  assistant, 
applied  in  days  when  taps  were  first  fitted  to  barrels 
for  drawing  off  liquor. 

Tarantella.  A  dance  invented  for  the  purpose  of  inducing 
perspiration  as  a  supposed  remedy  for  the  poisonous 
bite  of  the  Tarantula  spider,  which  received  its  name 
from  the  city  of  Taranto  in  Italy,  where  its  baneful 
effects  were  first  noted. 

Tarlatan.  From  Tarare  in  France,  the  chief  seat  of  the 
manufacture. 

Tar  Heels.  The  nickname  of  the  people  of  South  Caro- 
lina, relative  to  the  tar  industry  in  its  lowland  forests. 

Tarragona.  Called  by  the  Romans  Tarraco^  after  the 
name  given  to  the  city  by  the  Phoenicians,  Tarchon, 
"citadel." 

Tarred  with  the  same  Brush.  This  expression  originated 
in  the  custom  of  marking  the  sheep  of  different  folds 
formerly  with  a  brush  dipped  in  tar,  but  nowadays 
more  generally  in  red  ochre. 

Tart.      A  punning  abbreviation  of  "  Sweetheart." 


352  Tasmania— Teignmouth 

Tasmania.  After  Abel  Jansen  Tasman,  the  Dutsh  navi- 
gator, who  discovered  it  in  1642. 

Tattersall's.  After  Richard  Tattersall,  who  established  his 
famous  horse  repository  near  Hyde  Park  Corner  in 
1786;  on  10th  April  1865  it  was  removed  to  its  pre- 
sent locale  at  Knightsbridge. 

Taunton.     The  town  on  the  River  Tone. 

Tavern.     From  the  Latin  taberna,  a  hut  of  boards. 

Tavistock.     The  stockaded  place  on  the  Tavy. 

Tavistock  Street.  After  the  ancestor  of  the  present  great 
ground  landlord,  Thomas  Wriothesley,  Earl  of 
Southampton,  Marquis  of  Tavistock,  and  Duke  of 
Bedford,  the  father  of  the  celebrated  Rachel  who 
became  the  wife  of  Lord  William  Russell,  beheaded  in 
1683.  The  square  and  place  similarly  designated  are 
included  in  the  ducal  estate. 

Tawdry.  A  word  derived  from  the  cheap,  showy  lace 
anciently  sold  at  the  annual  fair  of  St  Audrey  in  the 
Isle  of  Ely.  This  was  called  St  Audrey's  lace,  after- 
wards corrupted  into  Tawdrey.  The  name  of  St 
Audrey  itself  was  a  corruption  of  St  Ethelreda. 

Tay.     From  the  Celtic  tain,  river. 

Tearless  Victory.  Plutarch  in  his  "  Lives  "  gave  this  name 
to  the  great  victory  won  by  Archimandus,  King  of 
Sparta,  over  the  Arcadians  and  Argives,  B.C.  367,  with- 
out the  loss  of  a  single  Spartan  soldier. 

Teetotaler.  This  designation  of  a  total  abstainer  arose 
out  of  the  stammering  address  at  Preston  in  September 
1833  of  one  Richard  Turner,  who  concluded  by 
saying  :  "  Nothing  but  t-t-t-t-total  abstinence  will  do — 
that  or  nowt ! " 

Teetotum.  A  coined  term  for  a  Working  Man's  Total 
Abstinence  Club,  suggested  by  the  word  "  Teetotaler." 

Teignmouth.  Situated  at  the  mouth,  or  in  the  estuary 
of,  the  Teign,  which  name  is  a  variant  of  the  Celtic 
tain,  river. 


Tell  that  to  the  Marines — Thames    353 

Tell  that  to  the  Marines.  In  the  old  days,  before  the 
bluejackets  proved  themselves  as  good  fighting  men 
on  land  as  at  sea,  the  Marines  were  an  indispensable 
adjunct  to  the  Navy,  but  as  time  hung  heavily  upon 
their  hands  they  were  always  ready  to  listen  to  a  story. 
Finding  that  they  were  easily  gullible,  the  sailors  loved 
to  entertain  them  with  the  most  extraordinary  yarns, 
and,  while  on  shore,  if  they  heard  a  wonderful  story 
themselves  they  made  up  their  minds  to  "tell  that  to 
the  Marines." 

Temple.  The  seat  of  the  "Knights  Templars"  in  this  country 
down  to  the  time  of  the  dissolution  of  their  Order  by 
Edward  II.  in  131 3. 

Temple  Bar.  The  ancient  gateway,  at  the  western 
extremity  of  Fleet  Street,  defining  the  "  liberty  "  of  the 
city  of  London  on  that  side,  and  originally  set  up  as 
the  ordinary  entrance  to  the  London  house  of  the 
Knights  Templars.  Taken  down  in  1878,  the  "Bar" 
now  adorns  the  park  of  Sir  Henry  Meux  at  Theobalds, 
Cheshunt,  Herts. 

Tenement  House.  An  Americanism  for  a  dwelling-house 
let  off  to  different  families. 

Tennessee.     Indian  for  "  river  of  the  great  bend." 

Tent  Wine.  A  corruption  of  vinto  tinto,  the  Spanish  for  a 
white  wine  coloured. 

Terpsichorean  Art.  After  Terpsichore,  one  of  the  Nine 
Muses,  who  presided  over  dancing. 

Terra-cotta.     Italian  for  "  baked  earth" — i.e.  clay. 

Texas.  Indian  for  "the  place  of  protection,"  where  a 
colony  of  French  refugees  were  kindly  received 
in  1817. 

Thaler.  Originally  called  a  Joachims-Thaler,  because  this 
German  coin  was  struck  out  of  silver  found  in  the 
thai,  or  dale,  of  St  Joachim  in  France  about  15 18. 
From  this  "Thaler"  the  term  "Dollar"  has  been 
derived. 

Thames.  To  assert  that  this  name  has  been  derived  from 
z 


354    Thames  St. — Threadneedle  St. 

the  Latin  (?)  Thamesis,  "the  broad  Isis,"  or  that  it 
expresses  the  conjunction  of  the  Thame  and  the  Isis, 
is  ridiculous.  The  word  is  wholly  Celtic,  from  tamy 
smooth,  and  esis,  one  of  the  many  variants  of  the 
original  uisg,  water.  It  is  quite  true  that  that  portion 
of  our  noble  river  which  flows  past  Oxford  is  called 
the  Isis,  but  the  name  is  scholastic  only,  and  cannot 
be  found  in  any  ancient  charter  or  historical  document. 
Thames  simply  means  smooth  water,  or,  if  we  care  to 
admit  it,  "  the  smooth  Isis." 

Thames  Street.  Runs  parallel  to  the  river  on  the  north 
bank. 

Thanet  Place.  This  cul  de  sac  at  the  eastern  end  of  the 
Strand  received  its  name  from  the  Earl  of  Thanet,  the 
owner  of  the  land  prior  to  1780. 

Thavie's  Inn.  A  range  of  modern  buildings  on  the  site  of 
an  ancient  appendage  to  Lincoln's  Inn,  so  called  by 
the  Benchers  in  honour  of  John  Thavie,  an  armourer, 
who  when  he  died  in  1348  left  a  considerable  amount 
of  property  to  the  parish  church  of  St  Andrew. 

Theobalds  Road.  So  called  because  James  I.  was  wont 
to  pass  along  it  on  the  way  to  his  favourite  hunting- 
seat  at  Theobalds  in  Hertfordshire.  See  "  Kingsgate 
Street." 

Thespian  Art.  After  Thespis,  the  Father  of  the  Greek 
Drama. 

Thirteen  Cantons.  A  tavern  sign  off,  Golden  Square, 
complimentary  to  the  Cantons  of  Switzerland,  at  a 
time  when  Soho  was  as  much  a  Swiss  colony  as  it  is 
now  French. 

Thomas  Street.  In  honour  of  Thomas  Guy,  the  founder 
of  the  Hospital,  also  named  after  him. 

Thomists.  Those  who  accepted  the  teaching  of  St  Thomas 
Aquinas,  in  opposition  to  that  of  John  Duns  Scotus 
relative  to  the  Immaculate  Conception. 

Threadneedle  Street.    A  corruption  of,  first,  "  Thridneedle," 


Three  Chairmen — Thursday       355 

and  later  "  Three-Needle "  Street,  so  called  from  the 
arms  of  the  Needlemakers'  Company. 

Three  Chairmen.  A  tavern  sign  in  Mayfair,  this  house 
being  the  regular  resort  of  gentlemen's  servants  in  the 
days  when  sedan-chairs  were  fashionable. 

Three  Exes.  The  nickname  of  the  30th  Regiment  of 
Foot  (XXX). 

Three  Kings.  An  inn  sign  derived  from  the  Magi  or 
Three  Wise  Men  who  came  to  adore  the  new-born 
Saviour  at  Bethlehem. 

Three  Men  Wine.  The  name  borne  by  a  very  bad  wine 
which  requires  two  men  to  hold  the  victim,  while  a 
third  pours  it  down  his  throat. 

Three  Nuns.  A  tavern  sign  in  Aldgate,  reminiscent  of  the 
neighbouring  priory  of  the  Nuns  of  St  Clare  in  ancient 
times. 

Three  Suns.  An  inn  sign  derived  from  the  device  of 
Edward  IV.  as  King  of  England. 

Throgmorton  Street.  After  the  wealthy  London  banker, 
Sir  Nicholas  Throgmorton. 

Throw  up  the  Sponge.  Originally  a  boxing  expression. 
When  a  prize-fighter  had  been  badly  bruised  in  the 
first  round  he  often  declined  the  sponge  offered  to 
him  by  his  second,  or,  in  a  sudden  fit,  threw  it  up  in 
the  air,  declaring  he  had  had  enough  of  it  j  hence  to 
"throw  up  the  sponge"  is  to  acknowledge  oneself 
beaten. 

Thundering  Legion.  The  name  ever  afterwards  borne 
by  that  Roman  legion  which,  a.d.  179,  overthrew  the 
power  of  the  Alemanni  by  defeating  them  during  a 
thunderstorm,  which  was  thought  to  have  been  sent  to 
them  in  answer  to  the  prayers  of  the  Christians. 

Thurlow  Place.  After  Lord  Chancellor  Thurlow,  whose 
residence  was  in  Great  Ormond  Street,  close  by. 

Thursday.  The  day  of  Thor,  the  God  of  Thunder,  in  the 
Scandinavian  mythology. 


356  Tied  House— Toff 

Tied  House.  A  public-house  owned  or  financed  by  a  firm 
of  brewers,  with  the  result  that  the  nominal  landlord 
is  not  allowed  to  replenish  his  stock  from  any  other 
brewer. 

Tierra  del  Fuego.  Spanish  for  "  land  of  fire,"  so  called 
from  a  volcano  on  the  largest  island  which  throws  up 
flame  and  smoke  visible  a  very  great  distance  out  at 
sea. 

Tight.  Intoxicated,  because  a  person  in  this  state  generally 
clutches  tight  hold  of  a  street  lamppost  or  a  con- 
venient railing  when  unable  to  walk  home  after  a 
debauch. 

Tighten  your  Purse  Strings.     See  "  Purse  Strings." 

Tilbury.  The  ancient  form  of  the  name  of  the  village  two 
miles  west  of  Tilbury  Fort  was  Tillaburgh^  after  one 
Tilla,  a  Saxon,  of  whom,  however,  nothing  is  now 
known.  A  small  two-wheeled  gig  without  a  cover  is 
called  a  Tilbury,  after  a  London  sportsman  who 
introduced  it  nearly  a  century  ago. 

Tinker.  A  corruption  of  "  tinner,"  or  tin-worker.  This 
has  given  rise  to  the  verb  "  to  tinker,"  which  meant 
originally  to  hammer  lightly  at  a  thing  after  the  style 
a  tinman,  without  being  able  to  repair  it  in  a 
thoroughly  workman-like  manner. 

Tintoretto.  The  better  known  name  of  the  famous  Italian 
painter,  Jacopo  Robusti,  because  his  father  was  a 
tintore,  or  dyer. 

Tobacco.  From  tobacoi  the  inhaling  tube  of  the  North 
American  Indians.  By  the  Spaniards  alone  has  the 
original  spelling  of  the  name,  now  given  universally  to 
the  fragrant  weed  itself,  been  preserved. 

Tobago  Island.  So  called  by  Columbus  on  account  of  its 
resemblance  to  the  inhaling  tube  of  the  Indians,  the 
tobaco. 

Toddy.  From  the  Hindoo  (audi,  a  stimulating  beverage 
made  from  the  juice  of  various  palm-trees. 

Toff.     A  vulgar  corruption  of  the  University  term  "  Tuft," 


Toggery — Tontine  357 

a  young  nobleman   who  pays   high  fees  and  is  dis- 
tinguished by  a  golden  tuft  or  tassel  on  his  cap. 

Toggery.  A  term  derived  from  the  same  source  as 
"Togs." 

Togs.  Slang  for  clothes,  but  originally  derived  from  toga, 
the  characteristic  male  garment  of  the  Romans. 

Tokay.  An  excellent  white  wine  produced  in  the  district 
of  the  same  name  in  Upper  Hungary. 

Tokenhouse  Yard.  Marks  the  site  of  the  ancient  Token- 
House,  which  came  into  existence  through  the  in- 
sufficiency of  small  copper  coinage.  A  number  of 
Nuremberg  "tokens"  having  been  introduced  into  this 
country,  tradesmen  imported  large  quantities  of  them 
for  purposes  of  small  (halfpenny  and  farthing)  change, 
but  instead  of  being  kept  in  circulation  such  tokens 
were  afterwards  exchanged  by  the  inhabitants  of  the 
city  for  their  face  value  at  the  Token-House.  About 
the  same  time  various  municipalities  throughout  the 
country  manufactured  their  own  tokens.  The  London 
Token-House  was  swept  away  by  the  Great  Fire  and 
never  rebuilt. 

Toledo.  From  the  Hebrew  ITtoledoth^  "generations," 
"families,"  relative  to  the  Jewish  founders  of  the  city. 

Tom  Folio.  The  sobriquet  of  Thomas  Rawlinson,  the 
bibliomaniac. 

Tommy  Atkins.  This  general  designation  of  an  English 
soldier  arose  out  of  the  hypothetical  name,  "Thomas 
Atkins,"  which  at  one  time  figured  in  the  Paymaster- 
General's  monthly  statement  of  accounts  sent  to  the 
War  Office.  So  much  money  claimed  by  "Thomas 
Atkins  "  meant,  of  course,  the  regular  pay  for  the  rank 
and  file. 

Tom  Tidier' s  Ground.  A  corruption  of  "  Tom  the  Idler's 
Ground." 

Tontine.  The  name  given  to  a  system  of  reducing 
the  State  Loans  in  France  in  1653  after  Lorenzo 
Tonti,  a  Neapolitan  protege  of  Cardinal  Mazarin,  its 


358    Tooley  St. — Tottenham  Court  Road 

projector.  According  to  this  system,  when  one  sub- 
scriber dies,  the  money  accredited  to  him  passes  to 
the  others,  until  the  last  survivor  inherits  the  whole 
amount. 

Tooley  Street.  Originally  "St  OlarT  Street"  after  the 
parish  church  dedicated  to  St  Olaff  or  Olave.  This 
thoroughfare  was  in  the  time  of  the  Commonwealth 
known  as  "  St  Tulie  Street,"  of  which  its  modern 
name  is  an  easy  corruption. 

Toothpicks.  A  nickname  borne  by  the  people  of  Arkansas 
on  account  of  the  Bowie  Knives  carried  by  the  early 
settlers. 

Topaz.  From  topazios,  after  Topazos,  the  Greek  name  of 
an  island  in  the  Red  Sea  where  this  gem  was  anciently 
found. 

Tories.  Originally,  during  the  Restoration  period,  the 
nickname  betowed  by  the  Protestants  on  their  religious 
and  political  opponents.  This  was  in  derisive  allusion 
to  a  band  of  outlaws  that  infested  the  bog  districts  of 
Ireland,  the  word  toree  being  Gaelic  for  a  robber. 

Toronto.      Indian  for  "oak-trees  beside  the  lake." 

Torquatus.      See  "  Manlius  Torquatus." 

Torres  Strait.  After  the  Spanish  navigator,  L.  N.  de 
Torres,  who  discovered  it  in  1606. 

Torrington  Square.  After  the  family  name  of  the  first 
wife  of  John,  the  sixth  Duke  of  Bedford,  the  ancestor 
of  the  great  ground  landlord. 

Tothill  Street.  A  name  which  recalls  the  ancient  manor 
of  Tothill,  properly Toothill — i.e.  beacon  hill.  Wherever 
toot  or  tot  appears  in  a  place-name,  it  points  to  the 
one-time  existence  of  a  beacon. 

Totnes.      A  corruption  of  "  Toot  Ness,"  the  beacon  on  the 

headland. 
Tottenham.      From  "Totham,"  a  corruption  of  Toot  ham, 

the  house  or  hamlet  by  the  beacon. 

Tottenham  Court  Road.    So  called  ever  since  the  days  of 


Touched  him — Transylvania      359 

Elizabeth  because  it  then  led  to  "Tottenham  Court." 
This  was  an  ancient  manor,  originally  belonging  to 
St  Paul's,  and  held  in  the  reign  of  Henry  III.  by 
William  de  Tottenhall. 

Touched  him  on  the  Raw.  Reminded  him  of  some- 
thing which  hurt  his  feelings.  This  expression  arose 
out  of  an  ostler's  solicitude  to  avoid  a  sore  place  on  a 
horse  while  grooming  him. 

Toulon.  The  Telonium  of  the  Romans,  so  called  after 
Telo  Martius,  the  tribune  who  colonised  it. 

Tractarians.  Those  Oxford  men  who  assisted  Dr  Pusey 
with  the  composition  of  the  famous  "  Tracts  for  the 
Times,"  as  well  as  those  who  accepted  the  opinions 
expressed  therein. 

Trafalgar  Square.  From  the  Nelson  Column,  set  up  in 
1843,  tw0  years  before  the  square  itself  was  laid  out  as 
it  now  exists. 

Traitors'  Gate.  The  riverside  entrance  to  the  Tower  of 
London  reserved  for  State  prisoners  convicted  of  high 
treason. 

Tramway.  An  abbreviation  of  "Outram  way,"  after 
Benjamin  Outram  of  Derbyshire,  who  was  the  first 
to  place  his  sleepers  end  to  end  the  whole  length 
of  the  rails,  instead  of  crosswise,  as  on  our  railways. 
Long  before  this,  however,  the  word  "Tram  "  had  been 
applied  to  a  coal  waggon  or  truck  in  the  colliery 
districts,  while  the  rails  on  which  a  vehicle  ran  bore  the 
name  of  a  "  Tramroad." 

Transformation  Scene.  So  called  because  in  the  good  old 
days  of  Pantomine  the  Fairy  Queen  was  at  this 
juncture  of  the  entertainment  supposed  to  transform 
the  chief  characters  of  the  "opening"  into  Clown, 
Pantaloon,  Harlequin,  Columbine,  and  Policeman. 

Transvaal.      Expresses    the    territory    beyond    the    Vaal 

River. 
Transylvania.      From  the  Latin  trans,  beyond,  and  sylva% 

wood ;  this  name  was  given  by  the  Hungarians  to  the 

country  beyond  their  wooded  frontier. 


360       Trappists — Trinity  Sunday 

Trappists.  A  strict  Order  of  Cistercian  Monks,  so  called 
from  their  original  home  at  La  Trappe  in  Normandy, 
established  during  the  twelfth  century. 

Treacle  Bible.  A  rare  version  of  the  Scriptures,  so  called 
on  account  of  the  rendering  of  the  passage  (Jeremiah 
viii.  22) :  "  Is  there  no  balm  in  Gilead  ?  "  as  "  There  is 
no  more  traicle  at  Gilead." 

Trent.     Celtic  for  "  winding  river." 

Tried  in  the  Balance  and  Found  Wanting.  An  expres- 
sion founded  on  the  belief  of  the  ancient  Egyptians 
that  the  souls  of  men  were  weighed  after  death. 

Trilbies.  Colloquial  for  feet,  because  Trilby  in  the  novel 
and  the  play  named  after  the  heroine  appears  in  bare 
feet. 

Trilby.  A  soft  felt  hat  of  the  kind  popularised  by  the 
heroine  of  the  famous  Haymarket  Theatre  play, 
Trilby,  founded  upon  the  late  George  du  Maurier's 
equally  famous  novel  of  the  same  title. 

Trinidad  Island.  The  name  given  to  it  by  Columbus  as  an 
emblem  of  the  Trinity,  relative  to  its  three  mountain 
peaks  which,  when  seen  from  afar,  he  at  first  imagined 
rose  from  three  different  islands. 

Trinitarians.  Those  who  accept  the  doctrine  of  the  Holy 
Trinity  as  opposed  to  the  Unitarians ;  also  the 
original  designation  of  the  "  Crutched  Friars,"  or  Friars 
of  the  Holy  Trinity. 

Trinity  House.  This  had  its  origin  in  an  ancient  guild 
incorporated  in  1529  under  the  title  of  "The  Master- 
Wardens  and  Assistants  of  the  Guild,  or  Fraternity,  or 
Brotherhood,  of  the  Most  Glorious  and  Undivisible 
Trinity,  and  St  Clement,  in  the  parish  of  Deptford, 
Stroud,  in  the  County  of  Kent."  The  present  building 
dates  from  1795. 

Trinity  Sunday.  That  which  follows  Whitsunday,  pursu- 
ant to  the  good  old  Catholic  custom  of  allowing  religious 
exercises,  specifically  the  partaking  of  the  Holy  Com- 
munion, to  be  performed  within  the  octave,  or  eight 
days,  of  a  great  feast. 


Tristan  d'Acunha — Turnagain  Lane    361 

Tristan  d'Acunha.      After  the  Portuguese  navigator  who 

discovered  this  island  in  165 1. 
Trithing.     See  "  Riding." 

Trump  Street.  After  the  makers  of  trumpets,  who,  in  the 
days  of  public  pageants  and  processions,  here  had 
their  workshops. 

Trust.  Another  word  for  a  "Combine"  or  "Corner," 
with  this  difference  that  its  members  are  pledged  to 
stand  by  one  another,  and  faithfully  maintain  the 
high  prices  their  action  has  brought  about. 

Tudors.  This  royal  house  received  its  name  from  Owen 
Tudor,  a  Welsh  soldier,  who  while  stationed  at  Windsor, 
contracted  a  secret  marriage  with  Catherine,  the 
widowed  queen  of  Henry  V. 

Tuesday.  In  the  Scandinavian  mythology  the  day  set 
apart  for  the  worship  of  Tiw,  the  God  of  War. 

Tuft.     See  "Toff." 

Tulle.  From  the  French  town  of  the  same  name,  where  this 
fabric  was  first  made. 

Tumble  to  it.  This  phrase  is  a  vulgar  perversion  of 
"stumble  upon  it" — i.e.  the  meaning  or  comprehen- 
sion of  a  thing. 

Tunis.  Anciently  Tunentum,  after  the  Tunes,  who  peopled 
the  country. 

Turin.  Called  by  the  Romans  Augusta  Taurisonum,  the 
capital  of  the  Taurini. 

Turkestan.  Conformably  to]  the  Persian  stan,  the  country 
of  the  Turks. 

Turkey.  From  "  Turkia,"  the  Celtic  suffix  expressing  the 
country  of  the  Turks.  The  bird  of  this  name  was 
long  thought  to  be  a  native  of  Turkey ;  it  was,  however, 
introduced  to  Europe  from  North  America  early  in 
the  sixteenth  century. 

Turnagain  Lane.  So  called  because  it  ends  at  a  high 
brick  wall,  and  the  pedestrian  has  no  alternative  but  to 
retrace  his  steps. 


362  Turnmill  Street — Tyne 

Turnmill  Street.  A  name  which  recalls  the  days  when  an 
old  mill,  whose  sails  turned  with  the  wind,  stood  in 
the  pleasant  meadow. 

Turpentine  State.  North  Carolina,  from  the  turpentine 
found  in  its  great  pine  forests. 

Turquoise.  From  Turkey,  the  country  where  this  precious 
stone  was  first  found. 

Tuscany.     The  territory  of  the  Etruscans. 

Tweed.  It  is  perfectly  true  that  this  cloth  is  fabricated  in 
the  vicinity  of  the  River  Tweed,  but  the  name  is 
really  a  corruption  of  "Twill,"  which  word,  in  an 
invoice  sent  to  James  Locke  in  London,  being  blotted, 
looked  like  "tweed,"  and  the  customer  thought  the 
cloth  might  as  well  be  called  by  that  name  as  by  its 
original. 

Twelfth  Night.  That  which  brought  the  Christmas  holi- 
days and  festivities  to  a  close  in  former  days.  In  the 
morning  the  people  went  to  church  to  celebrate  the 
Feast  of  the  Epiphany,  afterwards  they  gave  themselves 
up  right  merrily  to  indoor  amusements. 

Twickenham.  When  Pope  resided  in  this  pretty  up-river 
village  its  name  was  "Twitnam"  for  short,  but  it 
meant  the  same  as  of  yore,  a  hamlet  located  between 
two  rivulets  of  the  Thames.  The  word  is  Anglo- 
Saxon,  cognate  with  the  modern  German  zwischen, 
between,  and  heim,  a  home. 

Twill.  From  the  German  zwillick,  "trellis  work,"  so 
called  from  the  diagonal  ribs  distinguished  on  the  sur- 
face of  this  cloth. 

Two  Fours.      The  44th  Regiment  of  Foot. 

Two  Sevens.      The  77th  Regiment  of  Foot. 

Two  Twos.     The  22nd  Regiment  of  Foot. 

Tyburn.  A  corruption  of  Twa-burne,  "two  streams,"  the 
one  from  Bayswater,  the  other  from  Kilburn,  which 
met  on  the  spot  where  the  public  executions  formerly 
took  place  and  the  Marble  Arch  now  stands. 

Tyne.     Another  variant  of  the  Celtic  tain^  river. 


Uisquebaugh— Uncle  Sam        363 
U 

Uisquebaugh.  From  utsge,  water,  and  beatha,  life,  the 
national  drink  of  the  Irish  people.  Out  of  this  we 
have  derived  the  English  term  "  Whisky." 

Ukase.     From  the  Russian  ukasat,  to  speak. 

Ukraine.  Expresses  the  Slavonic  for  a  "frontier 
country." 

Ultramarine.  Another  name  for  "  Saunders  Blue,"  intro- 
duced to  England  from  beyond  the  sea. 

Umber.  From  Umbria  in  Italy,  where  this  pigment  was 
first  obtained. 

Umbrella.  From  the  Latin  umbra,  a  shade.  The 
original  function  of  such  an  article  was  to  act  as  a 
shelter  against  the  scorching  rays  of  the  sun,  similar 
to  those  monster  white  or  coloured  umbrellas  one 
sees  in  a  Continental  market-place.  It  was  Jonas 
Hanway  who  first  diverted  it  from  its  proper  use. 
See  "  Hanway  Street." 

Uncle.  How  this  name  came  to  be  applied  to  a  pawn- 
broker was  as  follows  : — Before  the  "  spout  "  was 
introduced  all  those  pledges  which  consisted  of 
clothing  were  attached  to  a  very  large  book,  or  uncus 
as  it  was  called,  conformably  to  the  Latin  description 
of  the  article,  since  the  Lombards  were  the  earliest 
pawnbrokers  of  history.  When  this  uncus  could 
accommodate  nothing  more,  the  rope  from  which  it 
depended  was  unslung  from  the  ceiling,  and  laid 
across  the  shoulders  of  an  assistant,  who  then  carried 
the  whole  collection  to  the  store-rooms  overhead. 
Hence  an  article  which  had  been  pledged  was  said  to 
have  "Gone  to  the  Uncus,"  or,  as  the  modern  phrase 
has  it,  "  Gone  to  my  Uncle's." 

Uncle  Sam.  The  national  nickname  of  the  United  States. 
This  arose  out  of  the  initials  "U.S.,"  which  the 
Government  caused  to  be  painted  or  branded  on  all 
its  stores   just  as  the  Government  property  in  this 


364    Uncle  Sams  Ice-box — Union  Jack 

country  is  marked  with  a  broad  arrow.  Since  it 
happened  that  the  official  whose  duty  it  was  to  see 
this  marking  properly  carried  out  was  known  among 
his  numerous  acquaintance  as  "Uncle  Sam,"the  general 
impression  obtained  that  the  letters  really  applied  to 
him,  as  evidence  that  the  goods  had  passed  through 
his  hands.  In  this  way  "Uncle  Sam"  bequeathed 
his  name  to  a  great  nation. 

Uncle  Sam's  Ice-box.  Alaska,  so  called  on  account  of 
its  northern  situation.  Prior  to  the  year  1867  this 
territory  belonged  to  Russia. 

Undertaker.  Specifically  one  who  in  former  days  under- 
took to  be  responsible  for  the  custody  of  a  corpse 
until  the  moment  that  it  was  lowered  into  the  grave. 
This  was  the  raison  d'etre  of  the  two  "mutes" 
stationed  by  him  at  the  door  of  the  house  by  day 
and  by  night  as  guards. 

Underwriter.  One  who  accepts  the  responsibility  of 
insuring  a  vessel  or  its  merchandise  by  signing  his 
name  at  the  foot  of  the  policy. 

Unionists.  Those  who  are  opposed  to  Home  Rule  for 
Ireland ;  now  identified  with  the  Conservative  Party. 

Union  Jack.  The  first  part  of  this  name  has,  of  course, 
reference  to  the  Union  of  England  and  Scotland  in 
the  person  of  James  I.,  but  the  application  of  the 
word  "  Jack "  to  our  national  flag  is  not  so  easily 
disposed  of.  Nevertheless,  reference  to  our  note  on 
"Jack -boots"  will  afford  the  reader  a  key  to  the 
question.  Twenty-six  of  such  "  Jacques,"  emblazoned 
with  the  arms  of  St  George,  were  ordered  by  Edward 
III.  for  one  of  his  warships.  Designed  primarily  for 
the  defence  of  his  soldiers  when  in  fighting  array, 
they  were  placed  in  a  row  along  the  low  bulwarks 
while  the  vessel  was  sailing,  just  as  the  Romans  and 
the  hardy  Norsemen  disposed  of  their  shields  at  sea. 
After  this  statement  it  should  not  be  difficult  to  see 
how  the  Cross  of  St  George  displayed  on  a  jacque 
lent  its  name  at  first  to  the  staff  from  which  the 
English  flag  was  flown,  and  later  to  the  flag  itself. 


Unitarians — Up  the  Spout       365 

Unitarians.  Those  who  are  opposed  to  the  doctrine  of 
the  Trinity,  denying,  as  they  do,  the  Godhead  or 
divinity  of  Jesus  Christ  and  the  Holy  Ghost.  This 
tenet  was  promulgated  by  Laelius  Socinus,  an  Italian 
theologian,  in  1546. 

United  Brethren.  Another  name  for  the  religious  sect 
styled  the  "  Moravians." 

University.  From  the  Latin  universitatis,  the  whole.  This 
word  expresses  the  various  distinct  colleges  and  halls 
at  Oxford,  Cambridge,  and  elsewhere,  incorporated  by 
a  royal  charter  as  one  great  educational  centre. 

Unlearned  Parliament.     See  "  Parliament  of  Dunces." 

Unready.     See  "  Ethelred  the  Unready." 

Up  a  Tree.  Completely  cornered,  yet  defiant ;  the  allusion 
is  to  the  refuge  of  a  tree-branch  against  the  attack  of 
a  bull  stationed  beneath  it. 

Upper  Berkeley  Street.     See  "  Berkeley  Street." 

Upper  Crust.  A  modern  term  for  the  aristocracy,  because 
it  was  formerly  considered  a  mark  of  high  honour  to 
allow  the  most  distinguished  guest  to  cut  off  the  top 
of  the  loaf  at  table. 

Upper  Seymour  Street.  After  the  Seymours,  from  whom 
the  Portmans,  owners  of  the  estate,  are  descended. 

Upper  Ten.  Short  for  "The  Upper  Ten  Thousand," 
which,  at  the  time  when  N.  P.  Willis  first  made  use  of 
the  term,  was  the  approximate  number  of  fashionables 
or  really  well-to-do  in  the  city  of  New  York. 

Uppertendom.     An  Americanism  for  the  aristocracy. 

Upper  Thames  Street.  The  western  portion  of  Thames 
Street  between  London  and  Blackfriars  Bridges. 

Up  the  Spout.  This  expression  requires  no  elucidating. 
Nevertheless,  there  was  a  time  when  a  pawnbroking 
establishment  had  not  the  convenience  of  a  "spout," 
and  because  this  was  so,  the  matter-of-fact  tradesman 


366  Up  to  Snuff— Vamoose 

earned  for  himself  the  endearing  title  of  "  My  Uncle." 
See  "  Uncle." 

Up  to  Snuff.  Said  of  one  who  has  a  keen  scent  for  reckon- 
ing up  his  neighbours. 

Uraguay.     Expresses  the  Brazilian  for  "  the  golden  water." 

Ural.     A  Tartar  word  for  "  belt." 

Usher.  From  the  old  French  huisher,  door,  signifies  a 
doorkeeper. 

Usk.     A  variant  of  the  Celtic  m'sg,  water. 

Ursulines.  An  Order  of  nuns  named  after  St  Ursula,  who 
suffered  martyrdom  at  Cologne  in  the  tenth  century. 

Utah.  After  an  Indian  tribe,  the  Yuta  or  Utes,  en- 
countered in  the  region  so  named. 

Utilitarianism.  A  word  implying  "the  happiness  of  the 
greatest  number."  In  this  sense  it  was  first  popularised 
by  John  Stuart  Mill,  after  Jeremy  Bentham  had  pro- 
mulgated a  similar  ethical  religion  under  the  style  of 
"Utility." 

Utopia.  From  the  Greek  ou,  not,  and  topos,  place,  this 
compound  term  signifies  "nowhere,"  "no  such  place." 
Ideas  and  Systems  are  said  to  be  "  Utopian  "  when 
they  cannot  be  accepted  by  the  average  reasoning  mind. 

v 

Valance.  From  Valencia  in  Spain,  where  bed  drapery 
was  at  one  time  made  for  the  supply  of  the  world's 
markets. 

Valencias.  Raisins  grown  in  the  Spanish  province  of 
Valencia,  which  name,  relative  to  the  capital  city, 
means  "powerful,  strong." 

Valenciennes.     Lace  made  at  the  French  town  of  the  same 

name. 
Valentines.     See  "  St  Valentine's  Day." 
Valparaiso.     Expresses  the  Spanish  for  "  Vale  of  Paradise." 
Vamoose.      An  Americanism  for  "decamp,"  "run  along," 

"  be  off."    This  had  its  origin  in  the  Spanish  vamos, 

"let  us  go." 


Vanbrugh  Castle — Venezuela     367 

Vanbrugh  Castle.  This  castellated  mansion  at  Blackheath 
was  built  by  Sir  John  Vanbrugh  in  171 7. 

Vancouver  Island.  Discovered  by  Captain  Vancouver 
while  searching  for  an  inlet  on  the  west  coast  of  North 
America  in  1792. 

Van  Diemen's  Land.  The  name  first  given  by  Tasman, 
its  discoverer,  in  1642,  to  what  is  now  "Tasmania,"  in 
compliment  to  the  daughter  of  the  Dutch  Governor  of 
Batavia. 

Vandyke.  A  pointed  lace  collar,  always  distinguished  in 
the  portraits  painted  by  Sir  Anthony  Vandyck.  Also 
a  peculiar  shade  of  brown  colour  used  by  him  for  his 
backgrounds. 

Vassar  College.  Founded  in  the  state  of  New  York  by 
Matthew  Vassar  in  1861  for  the  higher  education  of 
women.  This  might  be  said  to  constitute  the  Girton 
College  of  the  New  World. 

Vaudeville.  The  name  given  to  a  short,  bright  dramatic 
piece  interspersed  with  songs  set  to  familiar  airs,  after 
Vaudevire,  a  village  in  Normandy,  where  Olivier 
Basselin,  the  first  to  compose  such  pieces,  was  born. 
The  Vaudeville  Theatre  in  the  Strand  was  built  for 
entertainments  of  this  class. 

Vauxhall.  After  Jane  Vaux,  the  occupant  of  the  manor 
house  in  16 15.  This  name,  however,  would  seem  to 
have  been  corrupted  in  modern  times,  since  the  manor 
was  originally  held  soon  after  the  Norman  Conquest 
by  Fulka  de  Breante.  The  manor  house  might  con- 
sequently have  been  in  those  far-off  days  described  as 
"FulkesHall." 

Venerable  Bede.  The  Saxon  historian  merited  the  sur- 
name of  "Venerable"  because  he  was  an  aged  man 
and  also  an  ecclesiastic. 

Venezuela.  Finding  that  the  Indian  villages  in  this 
country  were  uniformly  built  upon  piles  in  the  water, 
the  Spaniards  gave  it  their  native  term  for  "  Little 
Venice." 


368  Venice — Vienna 

Venice.  After  the  Veneti,  the  early  inhabitants  of  the 
district. 

Vernier.  After  Pierre  Vernier,  the  inventor  of  the  instru- 
ment. 

Vere  Street.  After  the  De  Veres,  owners  of  the  estate 
before  it  passed  to  the  Harleys. 

Verger.  From  the  French  verge,  a.  rod,  the  name  borne 
by  the  custodian  of  a  cathedral  or  minster,  because 
in  common  with  official  attendants,  he  formerly  carried 
a  rod  or  staff  of  office. 

Vermicelli.      Italian  for  "  little  worms." 

Vermont.  A  corruption  of  "  Verd  Mont,"  in  allusion  to 
its  green  mountains. 

Vermuth.  The  white  wine  tinctured  with  bitter  herbs 
appropriately  bears  this  name  derived  from  the  Anglo- 
Saxon  wermod,  wormwood. 

Verulam  Buildings.  This  portion  of  Gray's  Inn  was 
named  in  honour  of  Lord  Bacon,  created  Baron 
Verulam  and  Viscount  St  Albans. 

Veto.     This  word  is  Latin  for  "  I  forbid." 

Vicar.  From  the  Latin  vicarius,  in  place  of  another.  See 
"Rector." 

Vichy  Water.  So  called  because  drawn  from  the  cele- 
brated springs  at  Vichy  in  France. 

Victoria.  The  carriage  of  this  name  was  introduced  in 
1838,  the  coronation  year  of  the  late  Queen  Victoria. 
Much  about  the  same  time  the  Australian  colony  so 
designated  in  her  honour  was  first  colonised. 

Victoria  Regia.  So  called  because  it  was  brought  to  Eng- 
land from  Guiana  soon  after  the  accession  of  Queen 
Victoria. 

Victoria  Street.  After  Queen  Victoria,  in  the  early  years  of 
whose  reign  it  was  cut  through  and  built  upon. 

Vienna.  From  a  small  stream,  the  Wien,  from  which  the 
city  received  its  German  name. 


Vignette — Vintry  369 

Vignette.  Expressing  the  French  for  a  "little  vine,"  this 
name  was  given  to  an  early  style  of  photograph,  and 
also  to  a  book  engraving  that  faced  the  title-page,  on 
account  of  the  vine  leaves  and  tendrils  that  surrounded 
it. 

Vigo  Street.  In  honour  of  the  capture  of  Vigo  by  Lord 
Cobham  in  17 19,  shortly  before  this  street  was  built 
upon. 

Viking.  From  the  Icelandic  vik,  a  creek,  the  usual  lurking- 
place  of  the  northern  pirates. 

Villain.  Although  signifying  originally  a  mean,  low  fellow, 
but  by  no  means  one  of  reprehensive  morals  as  now, 
this  term  was  applied  to  a  labourer  on  a  farm  or  a 
country  seat.  To  argue  this  point  with  the  humble  day- 
labourer  who  trims  the  shrubs  at  a  suburban  villa  in 
our  own  time,  would  serve  no  useful  purpose. 

Villiers  Street.  One  of  the  group  of  streets  the  names  of 
which  perpetuate  the  memory  of  George  Villiers,  Duke 
of  Buckingham,  whose  town  mansion  hereabouts  was 
approached  from  the  river  by  the  old  water  gate,  still 
in  existence. 

Vinegar.      From  the  French  vinaigre^  "sour  wine." 

Vinegar  Bible.  So  called  from  the  substitution  of  the  word 
"vinegar"  for  "vineyard"  in  the  headline  to  Luke  xx., 
printed  at  the  Clarendon  Press  in  17 17. 

Vinegar  Yard.  Wherever  this  corrupted  term  is  met  with 
in  London  it  points  to  a  "vineyard"  originally  be- 
longing to  a  religious  order.  That  in  Clerkenwell  was 
attached  to  the  Priory  of  the  Knights  of  St  John  of 
Jerusalem,  that  adjoining  Drury  Lane  Theatre  to  St 
Paul's  Convent  in  what  is  now  Covent  Garden. 

Vine  Street.  Recalls  the  existence  of  a  vineyard  at  West- 
minster and  off  Piccadilly,  anciently  held  by  the  abbots 
of  the  venerable  pile  of  St  Peter's  at  Westminster. 

Vintry.  This  ward  of  the  city  of  London  was  anciently 
the  "place  of"  the  vintners,  or  wine  merchants  who 
came  from  Bordeaux. 

2A 


370  Virginals — Waldenses 

Virginals.  An  early  example  of  keyed  musical  instrument 
resembling  the  pianoforte.  Also  this  was  played  upon 
with  some  degree  of  skill  by  Queen  Elizabeth,  the  so- 
called  "  Virgin  Queen,"  and  is  said  to  have  given  her 
name  to  the  instrument.  It  was,  however,  well  known 
long  before  her  time,  having  been  used  by  nuns  in  con- 
vents to  accompany  hymns  to  the  Virgin. 

Virginia.  Named  by  Sir  Walter  Raleigh  in  honour  of 
Elizabeth,  the  "Virgin  Queen." 

Virginia  Bible.  A  translation  of  the  Scriptures  into  the 
native  tongue  of  the  Indians  of  the  state  of  Virginia, 
first  printed  in  1661.  Copies  are  said  to  be  worth  at 
least  ^200. 

Virgin  Mary's  Body  Guard.  The  7th  Dragoon  Guards, 
because  this  regiment  once  served  under  Maria  Theresa 
of  Austria. 

Voltaire.  The  anagrammatic  literary  pseudonym  of  Francois 
Marie  Arouet,  formed  as  follows: — "Arouet  1.  j."  (le 
jeune). 

Volume.  From  the  Latin  volvo,  I  roll.  The  earliest 
documents  or  writings  consisted  of  long  rolls  of  the 
Egyptian  papyrus,  and  when  these  were  rolled  up  each 
one  corresponded  to  what  the  moderns  called  a  volume. 
See  "  Roll  Call." 


w 


Wadham  College.  Founded  at  Oxford  by  Nicholas 
Wadham  in  16 13. 

Walbrook.  From  a  pleasant  stream  of  clear  water  which, 
after  skirting  the  wall  of  St  Stephen's  Church,  behind 
where  the  Mansion  House  now  stands,  ran  southward, 
to  empty  itself  into  the  Thames  at  Dowgate. 

Waldenses.  The  followers  of  Peter  Waldo,  a  merchant 
of  Lyons,  who  towards  the  end  of  the  twelfth  century 
had  the  four  Gospels  translated  for  the  benefit  of  the 
people,  and  was  unsparing  in  his  denunciation  of  the 


Wales — Wal  tham  3  7 1 

clergy.  With  the  Albigenses  of  Languedoc  these 
people,  who  entered  with  their  leader  into  the  valleys 
of  Dauphine  and  Piedmont,  may  be  regarded  as  the 
earliest  of  the  Reformers. 

Wales.  This  Celtic  territory,  which  was  never  even  pene- 
trated by  the  Anglo-Saxons,  received  the  name  of 
"Wallia,"  signifying  the  country  of  the  Wahlen  or 
Wahls,  foreigners. 

Walham  Green.  The  original  spelling  of  this  name 
"  Wahlheim,"  expressed  from  the  Anglo-Saxon  point 
of  view  a  home  or  settlement  of  the  Wahls  or 
foreigners. 

Walk  a  Virginia  Fence.  An  American  phrase  applied  to 
a  drunken  man.  In  Virginia  the  rail  fences  are  con- 
structed in  a  zig-zag  manner,  whence  they  are  also 
called  "worm  fences." 

Walking  Gentlemen.  In  theatrical  parlance,  one  who 
plays  the  part  of  a  gentleman  or  noble  on  the  stage ; 
he  may  not  have  much  to  say,  but  his  bearing  must  be 
above  reproach.  The  plays  of  Shakespeare  abound  in 
parts  of  this  kind. 

Walk  the  Chalk.  An  Americanism  for  to  act  straight  or 
keep  in  the  right  path. 

Wallop.  In  the  year  15 14  the  French  fleet  ravaged  the 
coast  of  Sussex,  and  burned  Brighthelmstone,  now 
Brighton,  whereupon  Sir  John  Wallop,  one  of  the 
best  naval  commanders  of  his  time,  was  sent  by  Henry 
VIII.  to  make  reprisals.  In  this  he  succeeded  only 
too  well;  he  burned  twenty-one  French  coasting 
villages,  demolished  several  harbours,  and  thrashed 
the  enemy  to  his  heart's  content.  His  men,  however, 
proud  of  the  achievement,  declared  that  they  had 
Walloped  the  French  j  and  thus  it  was  that  a  new 
synonym  for  "thrash"  came  to  be  incorporated  into 
the  English  language. 

Waltham.  From  the  Anglo-Saxon  Waldheim^  the  home  or 
settlement  in  the  wood. 


372  Waltz— Water  Lane 

Waltz.  From  the  German  "Waltzer,"  the  name  of  the 
dance,  and  waltzen,  to  roll,  relative  to  the  revolutions 
made  by  the  pairs  of  dancers. 

Walworth.  Originally  a  settlement  of  the  Wak/s,  or 
foreigners,  descendants  of  the  Danes  (see  "  South- 
wark  ").  This  district  became  in  Anglo-Saxon  days  a 
worthy  or  manor,  from  which  Sir  William  Walworth, 
the  Lord  Mayor  who  slew  Wat  Tyler,  derived  his 
family  name. 

Wandsworth.  Anciently  described  as  "  Wandlesworth," 
the  manor  watered  by  the  River  Wandle. 

Wapentake.  Expresses  the  Saxon  for  "a  touching  of 
arms."  This  territorial  division,  which  obtained  in 
Yorkshire  in  the  time  of  the  Anglo-Saxons,  and  corre- 
sponded to  the  "  Hundred "  elsewhere,  received  its 
name  from  the  periodical  meeting  of  the  champions 
of  each  hundred  to  touch  spears  and  swear  to  defend 
the  common  cause. 

Wardour  Street.  After  Wardour  Castle,  the  seat  of  the 
ground  landlord,  Lord  Arundel  of  Wardour. 

Wardrobe  Terrace.  Marks  the  site  of  the  ancient 
"Wardrobe,"  when  our  sovereigns  resided  in  what 
was  styled  "Tower  Royal"  hard  by. 

Warwick.  From  the  Anglo-Saxon  Wcerwic,  "  war  town," 
so  called  on  account  of  its  permanent  garrison  of 
soldiers. 

Warwick  Lane.  From  the  town  mansion  of  the  Beau- 
champs,  Earls  of  Warwick. 

Warwick  Road.  After  the  Earls  of  Warwick,  owners  of 
the  Earl's  Court  estate  before  it  passed  to  the  Holland 
family. 

Washington.  Laid  out  under  the  superintendence  of 
George  Washington,  the  first  President  of  the  United 
States.  This  seat  of  the  Government  was  honoured 
with  his  name. 

Water  Lane.  Prior  to  the  construction  of  Victoria  Street 
this  winding  lane  led  down  to  the  Thames. 


Waterloo  Bridge — Wednesday    373 

Waterloo  Bridge.  So  called  because  it  was  declared  open 
1 8th  June  1817,  the  anniversary  of  the  battle  of 
Waterloo. 

Waterloo  Park.  After  Sir  Sidney  Waterloo,  who  presented 
it  to  the  public. 

Waterloo  Place.  So  called  as  a  military  set-off  to  Trafalgar 
Square  when  the  Duke  of  York's  column  was  erected 
by  public  subscription  in  1833.  The  statues  of 
famous  British  generals  around  this  open  space  are 
quite  in  keeping  with  the  design. 

Water  Poet.  The  literary  sobriquet  of  John  Taylor,  who 
was  a  Thames  waterman. 

Watling  Street.  A  corruption  of  Vitellina  Strata,  "the 
road  of  Vitellius,"  so  called  because  this  great  Roman 
highway  from  Dover  to  Cardigan  in  Wales  was  pro- 
jected by  the  Emperor  Vitellius,  and  those  portions  of 
it  in  London  and  elsewhere  were  constructed  during 
his  reign. 

Watteau.     See  "  A  la  Watteau." 

Way  Down.  An  Americanism  for  "  down  the  way  to " 
e.g. — "  Way  down  the  lone  churchyard." 

Wayzgoose.  A  printers'  summer  outing,  so  called  from  the 
wayz  or  stubble  goose  which ,  when  the  outing  took 
place  later  in  the  season,  was  the  invariable  dinner 
dish.  The  term  wayz  is  from  the  Dutch  wassen  and 
German  waschen,  to  grow;  hence  a  goose  that  has 
fattened  among  the  stubble  after  the  harvest  has  been 
gathered. 

Wedding  Breakfast.  The  nuptial  banquet  had  in  Catholic 
days  a  real  significance,  when,  having  fasted  from  mid- 
night, the  entire  party  attended  Mass,  and  partook  of 
the  Communion.  At  the  close  of  the  marriage 
ceremony  the  priest  regaled  them  with  wine,  cakes, 
and  sweetmeats  in  the  church  porch  by  way  of 
breakfast. 

Wednesday.  In  the  Scandinavian  mythology  this  was 
"Wodin's  Day,"  or  that  set  apart  for  the  worship  of 


374    Wedgwood  Ware— Wesleyans 

Odin  or  Wodin,  the  god  of  magic  and  the  inventor  of 
the  Arts. 
Wedgwood   Ware.     The  style  of  pottery  invented  or  intro- 
duced by  Josiah  Wedgwood  in  1775. 

Weeping  Cross.  A  cross  set  up  on  the  way  to  a  church- 
yard where  the  coffin  was  rested  for  a  brief  space  while 
prayers  were  offered  up  for  the  soul  of  the  deceased. 
The  wailing  of  the  women  generally  interrupted  the 
proceedings. 

Weeping  Philosopher.  Heraclitus  of  Ephesus,  who  volun- 
tarily embittered  the  declining  years  of  his  existence 
by  weeping  over  the  folly  of  mankind. 

Wedlock  Street.  After  Welbeck  Abbey,  the  seat  of  the 
Duke  of  Portland,  the  great  ground  landlord. 

Wellingborough.  Anciently  "Wellingbury,"  on  account  of 
the  medicinal  wells  or  springs  which  abound  in  its 
vicinity. 

Wellington.  This  province  and  capital  city  of  New 
Zealand  received  the  name  of  the  Duke  of  Wellington. 

Wellington   Boots.     After  the  Duke  of  Wellington. 

Wellington  Street.  In  honour  of  the  Duke  of  Wellington, 
because  it  leads  to  Waterloo  Bridge. 

Wells  Street.  A  corruption  of  "  Well  Street,"  after  Well  in 
Yorkshire,  the  seat  of  the  Strangeways  family,  from 
whom  Lady  Berners,  owner  of  the  estate,  was  descended. 

Welsher.  The  name  borne  by  an  absconding  bookmaker 
on  a  race-course  was  originally  a  "Welshman,"  in 
allusion  to  the  old  ditty:  "Taffy  was  a  Welshman, 
Taffy  was  a  thief." 

Welsh  Rabbit.  A  popular  corruption  of  "Welsh  Rare- 
bit." 

Wesleyan  Methodists.  The  name  borne  by  that  portion 
of  the  Methodist  sect  which  worship  in  chapels  and 
so-called  churches,  which  was  far  from  the  intention 
of  their  founder.     See  "Primitive  Methodists." 

Wesleyans.  The  followers  of  John  Wesley,  or  "  Methodists  " 
in  general. 


Wessex — Whigs  375 

Wessex.  The  great  kingdom  of  the  West  Seaxe,  or  West 
Saxons,  under  the  Heptarchy. 

Westbourne  Park.  The  district  formerly  traversed  by 
the  west  bourne  or  stream  between  "  Kilburn  "  and 
"Bayswater." 

West  Indies.  Those  islands  in  the  Caribbean  Sea,  which 
Columbus  imagined  to  form  part  of  the  great  unknown 
India,  as  approached  from  the  west. 

Westminster.  This  name  has  been  from  time  immemorial 
given  to  the  district  of  which  the  ancient  fane  tauto- 
logically  styled  "Westminster  Abbey"  is  the  centre. 
One  does  not  speak  of  "  York  Minster  Abbey "  or 
"  Lincoln  Minster  Abbey."  A  minster  is  a  great 
church  in  connection  with  a  monastery.  Since  the 
Reformation  the  abbeys  have  been  swept  away,  the 
Minsters  remain.  The  earliest  mention  of  "the 
West  Minster  "  occurs  in  a  Saxon  charter  of  785,  in 
contradistinction  to  "  the  East  Minster  "  that  stood  in 
those  days  somewhere  on  Tower  Hill.  All  trace  of 
this  has  been  lost,  yet  it  is  possible  that  St  Katherine's 
Hospital,  now  displaced  by  the  docks  of  the  same 
name,  grew  out  of  it. 

Westmorland.  The  land  peopled  by  the  Westmorings,  or 
those  of  the  Western  moors. 

Weymouth  Street.  After  Lord  Weymouth,  the  son-in-law 
of  the  ground  landlord,  the  Duke  of  Portland. 

What's  the  Damage?  This  expression  arose  out  of  the 
damages  awarded  to  a  successful  litigant  in  the  Law 
Courts. 

Whig  Bible.  So  called  owing  to  the  substitution  of  the 
word  " placemakers "  for  "peacemakers." 

Whigs.  An  abbreviation  of  "  Whigamores,"  first  applied 
to  the  Scottish  Covenanters  in  consequence  of  a 
rising  among  the  peasantry  among  the  Lowland 
moors  called  the  "Whigamore  Raid,"  and  finally  to 
that  political  party  which  strove  to  exclude  the  Duke 
of  York,  James  II.,  from  the  throne  because  he  was  a 
Catholic.     The  term  "  Whigamore  "  arose  out  of  the 


376  Whisky — White  Queen 

twin-syllabic  cry  "  Whig-am  ! "  of  the  teamsters  and 
ploughmen  of  those  districts  of  Scotland  to  drive 
their  horses. 

Whisky.    An  English  form  of  the  Irish  "Uisquebaugh." 

Whitby.  So  called  by  the  Danes  when  they  took  possession 
of  this  abbey  town  on  the  cliffs,  literally  "  white 
town." 

Whitebait.  On  account  of  its  silvery  whiteness  and  because 
it  was  at  one  time  used  exclusively  for  baiting  crab  and 
lobster  pots. 

Whiteboys.  A  band  of  Irish  insurgents  who  wore  white 
smocks  over  their  ordinary  garments. 

Whitechapel.  As  in  the  case  of  Westminster,  this  name 
now  expresses  a  district,  and  "  Whitechapel  Church  " 
sounds  ridiculous.  Its  ancient  designation  was  the 
"  White  Chapel  of  St  Mary." 

Whitecross  Street.     See  "  Redcross  Street/ 

Whitefriars  Street.  In  olden  days  this  was  the  western 
boundary  of  the  Carmelite  or  White  Friars'  Monastery, 
built  in  1245. 

Whitehall.  The  central  portion  of  the  wide  thoroughfare 
between  Charing  Cross  and  Westminster.  This 
received  its  name  from  the  Banqueting-hall  of  white 
stone,  originally  part  of  a  palace  designed  by  Cardinal 
Wolsey  for  the  London  house  of  the  Archbishop  of 
York,  and  now  the  United  Service  Museum. 

White  Hart.     An  inn  sign  from  the  device  of  Richard  II. 

White  Hart  Street.  After  an  ancient  inn,  "The  White 
Hart,"  removed  during  the  reign  of  George  I. 

White  House.  The  official  residence  of  the  President  of 
the  United  States  at  Washington,  so  called  because  it 
is  built  of  freestone  painted  white. 

White  Quakers.  An  offshoot  of  the  Quaker  sect,  about 
1840,  who  adopted  white  clothing. 

White   Queen.     Mary  Queen  of  Scots,  who  appeared  in 


White  Lion — Wilburites  377 

white   mourning    for   her   murdered   husband,    Lord 
Darnley. 

White  Lion.  An  inn  sign  from  the  badge  of  Edward  IV. 
as  Earl  of  March. 

White  Sea.  So  called  because  during  six  months  out  of 
each  year  it  is  frozen  over  and  covered  with  snow. 

White  Swan.  An  inn  sign  complimentary  to  Edward  III. 
and  Henry  IV.,  whose  badge  it  was. 

Whit  Sunday.  A  corruption  of  "  White  Sunday,"  so  called 
from  the  earliest  days  of  Christianity  in  England 
because  the  catechumens  or  newly  baptised  attended 
Mass,  and  received  the  Sacrament  dressed  in  white,  on 
the  Feast  of  Pentecost. 

Whittington  Avenue.  After  Sir  Richard  Whittington, 
thrice  Lord  Mayor  of  London,  who  resided  in  this 
neighbourhood. 

Whittington  Stone.  The  name  of  a  tavern  on  Highgate 
Hill,  opposite  to  which  is,  according  to  tradition,  the 
identical  stone  on  which  Dick  Whittington,  the  future 
Lord  Mayor  of  London,  rested  while  listening  to  the 
bells  of  Bow  Church  chiming  across  the  pleasant 
fields. 

Wicked  Bible.  Wilfully  or  otherwise  the  word  "not"  is 
omitted  from  this  edition  of  the  Scriptures,  so  that  the 
passage  in  Exodus  xx.  14.  reads  :  "  Thou  shalt  commit 
adultery." 

Wide-awake.  The  slang  term  for  a  soft  felt  hat,  because, 
having  no  nap,  it  must  always  be  wide  awake. 

Widow  Bird.  A  corruption  of  "  Why  daw  Bird,"  from  the 
country  in  West  Africa  where  it  is  found. 

Wigmore  Street.  In  common  with  several  neighbouring 
streets,  this  perpetuates  one  of  the  titles  of  Edward 
Harley,  Earl  of  Oxford  and  Mortimer,  who  in  171 7  was 
created  Baron  Harley  of  Wigmore  in  Herefordshire,  the 
ground  landlord. 

Wilburites.      The  othordox  or  strict  members  of  the  Society 


37%    William  the  Lion— Windmill  Street 

of  Friends  in  America  under  John  Wilbur,  as  opposed 
to  the  "  Hicksite  Friends." 

William  the  Lion.  The  surname  of  this  King  of  the  Scots 
was  due  to  his  selection  of  a  lion  rampant  for  his  crest. 

Willis's  Rooms.     See  "  Almack's." 

Will  Scarlet.  A  euphonism  invented  by  Robin  Hood 
for  William  Scathelocke,  the  real  name  of  one  of  his 
merry  men. 

Wilton.     See  "Wiltshire." 

Wiltshire.  A  corruption  of  "  Wiltonshire,"  or  the  Shire 
of  Wilton,  which  name  in  its  original  form,  "Willy 
Town,"  expressed  the  town  on  the  River  Willy. 

Wimbledon.  Originally  Wibbadon,  expressing  the  Celtic 
for  a  low-lying  meadow  or  common  belonging  to  one 
Wibba. 

Wimpole  Street.  After  the  country  seat  of  the  Harleys 
on  the  Herefordshire  and  Cambridgeshire  border. 

Winchester  Yard.  From  Winchester  House,  the  ancient 
town  mansion  of  the  Bishops  of  Winchester. 

Windermere.  Expresses  the  Anglo-Saxon  for  "clear 
water  lake." 

Winchester.  Inhabited  by  the  Belgce,  this  stronghold, 
called  by  them  Ccer-Gwent,  "fortified  enclosure  on 
the  plain,"  was  after  the  Roman  invasion  made  a 
great  centre  of  military  activity  under  the  Latinised 
name  of  Venta  Belgarum,  which  the  West  Saxons 
changed  into  Wintanccestre^  "the  camp  town  of  the 
Winte,"  whence  its  modern  name  has  been  derived. 

Windmill  Street.  A  name  suggestive  of  peaceful  rusticity. 
The  thoroughfare  in  Finsbury  so  denominated  marks 
the  site  of  three  windmills  that  were  erected  on  a 
mound  formed  by  the  deposition  of  a  thousand  cart- 
loads of  human  bones  from  the  Charnel-house  of  St 
Paul's  Cathedral  by  order  of  the  Lord  Protector 
Somerset  in  1549. 


Windsor — Woolsack  379 

Windsor.  Anciently  described  as  a  Windlesora,"  the 
winding  shore. 

Wine  Office  Court.  From  an  ancient  office  where  wine 
licences  were  issued. 

Winnipeg.       Indian  for  "  lake  of  the  turbid  water." 

Wirepuller.  In  allusion  to  the  manipulators  of  the 
figures  at  a  marionette  show. 

Wisconsin.       Indian  for  "wild-rushing  channel." 

Within  an  Ace.  Since  the  ace  in  a  pack  of  cards  is  the 
unit  of  pips,  he  who  accomplishes  anything  by  the 
merest  shave  does  so  within  a  single  mark. 

Wizard  of  the  North.  Sir  Walter  Scott,  so  called  on 
account  of  the  enchantment  which,  through  his  novels, 
he  exercised  over  the  inhabitants  of  North  Britain. 

Woburn  Square.  After  Woburn  Abbey,  the  ancestral 
seat  of  the  Duke  of  Bedford. 

Woke  up  the  Wrong  Passenger.  An  Americanism  for 
having  made  a  mistake  in  the  individual.  This 
originated  in  the  Mississippi  steamboats,  the  stewards 
on  board  of  which  often  call  up  the  wrong  passenger 
at  the  stopping-places  by  night. 

Wolverhampton.  Anciently  "Wulfrune's  Hampton,"  so 
called  from  the  church  and  college  of  St  Peter  founded 
by  Wulfrune,  the  sister  of  King  Edgar,  in  996. 

Wolverine  State.  Michigan,  on  account  of  the  prairie 
wolves  which  formerly  infested  this  region.  Its  people 
are  called  "  Wolverines." 

Wood  Green.  In  old  days  this  was  a  glade  in  Hornsey 
Wood. 

Wood  Street.  In  this  locality  congregated  the  turners  of 
wooden  cups,  dishes,  and  measures  of  olden  times. 

Woolly  Heads.  An  Americanism  for  the  Negroes  of  the 
southern  states. 

Woolsack.  The  seat  reserved  for  the  Lord  Chancellor  in 
the  House  of  Lords,  being  a  large  sack  stuffed  with 


380         Woolwich — Wych  Street 

wool,  and  covered  with  scarlet  cloth,  its  object  being 
to  keep  him  in  constant  reminder  of  the  great  im- 
portance of  the  woollen  manufacture  in  England. 

Woolwich.      Anciently  described  as  Hylwich,  "  hill  town." 

Worcester.  Known  to  the  Anglo-Saxons  as  Hwicwara 
ceaster^  "the  stronghold  of  the  Huiccii."  The  latter 
portion  of  the  name,  however,  proves  that  this  must 
have  been  a  Roman  encampment ;  the  Huiccii  were  a 
Celtic  tribe. 

Worcester  College.  Originally  known  as  Gloucester  Hall, 
this  Oxford  foundation  was  in  17 14  enlarged  and  en- 
dowed as  a  college  by  Sir  Thomas  Cooksey  of  Astley, 
Worcestershire,  who,  not  desiring  his  name  to  be 
handed  down  to  posterity,  called  it  after  his  native 
county. 

Work  a  Dead  Horse.  A  journeyman's  phrase  implying 
that  he  has  to  set  to  work  on  the  Monday  morning 
upon  that  for  which  he  has  already  been  paid  on  the 
previous  Saturday. 

World's  End.  A  famous  house  of  entertainment  during 
the  reign  of  Charles  II.,  so  called  on  account  of  its 
immense  distance  in  those  days  out  of  London.  Like 
many  other  places  of  outdoor  resort,  it  exists  now  only 
as  a  public-house. 

Wormwood  Street.  From  the  bitter  herbs  which  sprang 
up  along  the  Roman  Wall  in  ancient  times. 

Worsted.  After  a  town  in  Norfolk  of  the  same  name 
where  this  fabric  was  of  old  the  staple  industry. 

Writes  like  an  Angel.  Dr  Johnson  said  of  Oliver  Gold- 
smith :  "  He  writes  like  an  angel  and  talks  like  a  fool." 
The  allusion  was  to  Angelo  Vergeco,  a  Greek  of  the 
sixteenth  century,  noted  for  his  beautiful  hand- 
writing. 

Wych  Street.  This  now  vanished  thoroughfare  was 
anciently  Aidwych,  "Old  Town,"  so  called  because 
it  led  from  St  Clement  Danes  Church  to  the  isolated 
settlement   in  the  parish   of  St  Giles's-in-the-Fields, 


Wye — Yankee  Jonathan  381 

which  in  our  time  is  known  as  Broad  Street,  Blooms- 
bury. 

Wye.     From  the  Welsh  gwy,  water. 

Wyndham  College.  The  joint  foundation  at  Oxford  of 
Nicholas  and  Dorothy  Wyndham  of  Edge  and  Mere- 
field,  Somersetshire,  in  1611. 


X  Ale.  The  original  significance  of  the  X  mark  on  beer 
barrels  was  that  the  liquor  had  paid  a  ten  shilling-duty. 
Additional  X's  are  simply  brewers'  trade  marks,  de- 
noting various  degrees  of  strength  over  that  of  the 
first  X. 

XL'ers.     See  "  Exellers." 

XXX's.     See  "Three  Exes." 


Yale  University.  After  Elihu  Yale,  formerly  Governor  of 
the  East  Indian  Company's  settlement  at  Madras, 
whose  princely  benefactions  to  [the  Collegiate  School 
of  the  State  of  Connecticut,  founded  by  ten  Con- 
gregational ministers  at  Killingworth  in  1701, 
warranted  the  removal  of  that  seat  of  learning  to  New 
Haven  fifteen  years  later. 

Yang-tse-Kiang.     Chinese  for  "  great  river." 

Yankee.  A  term  popularly  applied  at  first  to  one  born  in 
the  New  England  states  of  North  America  owing  to 
the  fact  that  Yankees,  Yangktes  and  similar  pepretrations 
were  the  nearest  approaches  to  the  word  "  English." 
which  the  Indians  of  Massachusetts  were  capable  of. 
Afterwards  it  came  to  be  applied  to  the  people  of  the 
continent  generally. 

Yankee  Jonathan.  The  nickname  of  Jonathan  Hastings,  a 
farmer  of  Hastings,  Mass.,  on  account  of  his  addiction 


382       Yankee  State — Yokohama 

to  the  word  "  Yankee,"  used  adjectively  for  anything 
American.  Thus  he  would  say  "a  Yankee  good 
cider,"  "  a  Yankee  good  horse,"  etc. 

Yankee  State.  Ohio,  so  called  by  the  Kentuckians  on 
account  of  its  many  free  institutions. 

Yarmouth.  The  port  situated  at  the  mouth  of  the  Yare. 
See  "  Yarrow." 

Yarn.  A  spun-out  story  bears  this  name  in  allusion  to  the 
thread  out  of  which  cloth  is  woven. 

Yarrow.     From  the  Celtic  garw,  rough,  rapid. 

Yeddo.     Japanese  for  "  river  entrance." 

Yellow  Book.  A  French  Government  report,  so  called 
from  its  yellow  cover. 

Yellow  Boy.     Slang  for  a  sovereign. 

Yellow  Jack.  A  yellow  flag  which  is  flown  from  a  vessel 
in  quarantine  and  from  naval  hospitals  as  a  warning  of 
yellow  fever  or  other  contagious  disease  on  board. 
See  "  Union  Jack." 

Yellow  Press.  By  this  term  is  meant  that  section  of  the 
Press  which  is  given  up  to  creating  a  scare  or  sensation. 
It  has  been  derived  from  what  in  the  United  States 
bears  the  name  of  "Yellow-covered  Literature,"  con- 
sisting of  trashy  sensation  novels,  published  chiefly  for 
railway  reading. 

Yellow  Sea.  From  the  tinge  imparted  to  its  waters  by  the 
immense  quantities  of  alluvial  soil  poured  into  them 
by  the  Yang-tse-Kiang  River. 

Yendys.  The  literary  sobriquet  of  Sydney  Dobell,  being 
simply  his  Christian  name  reversed. 

Yeoman's  Service.  Originally  that  rendered  to  the  State 
in  time  of  war  by  volunteers  of  the  Guilds  or  City 
Companies.  The  term  "  Yeoman  "  is  derived  from  the 
German  gemein,  common,  and  applied  in  the  sense  of 
enlistment  for  the  common  good. 

Yokohama.     Japanese  for  "  Cross  Shore." 


York— Yuletide  383 

York.  The  Eboracum  of  the  Romans,  a  Latinised  render- 
ing of  the  British  Eurewic  (pronounced  Yorric),  "a 
row  of  houses  on  the  Eure,"  which  river  is  now  called 
the  Ouse. 

York  and  Albany.  An  omnibus  stage  in  Camden  Town 
named  after  Frederick,  Duke  of  York  and  Albany,  the 
second  son  of  George  III. 

York  Gate.  The  water  gate,  still  standing,  built  for  York 
House,  of  which  no  other  vestige  remains. 

York  Road.  This  long  road,  parallel  to  the  Great  Northern 
Railway  at  King's  Cross,  owes  its  designation  to  the 
circumstance  that  the  line  in  question  was  origin- 
ally styled  the  "  London  and  York  Railway." 

Yorkshire  Stingo.  A  public-house  sign  indicating  that  the 
celebrated  ale  of  this  name,  due  to  the  sting  or  sharp- 
ness of  its  taste,  is  sold  on  the  premises. 

York  Street.  In  Covent  Garden,  after  James,  Duke  of 
York,  the  second  son  of  Charles  I.,  and  brother  of 
Charles  II.,  subsequently  James  II.  In  Westminster, 
from  the  erstwhile  residence  of  Frederick,  Duke  of 
York  and  Albany,  son  of  George  III. 

Young  Buffs.  The  31st  Foot,  whose  uniforms  were  very 
similar  to  those  of  the  Buffs,  or  3rd  Foot — viz.  scarlet 
coats  faced  and  lined  with  buff,  and  the  remainder 
wholly  of  buff-coloured  material.  Soon  after  their 
formation  in  1702  they  distinguished  themselves 
greatly  in  action,  whereupon  the  General  rode  up,  ex- 
claiming :  "Well  done,  old  Buffs!"  "But  we  are 
not  the  Buffs,"  some  of  the  men  replied,  "Then, 
well  done,  young  Buffs,"  was  the  retort,  and  the  name 
stuck  to  them  ever  after. 

Young  Nipper.     See  "  Nipper." 

Yucatan.  From  Yuca  tan,  "What  do  you  say?"  which 
was  the  only  answer  the  Spaniards  were  able  to  obtain 
from  the  aborigines  when  they  asked  them  the  name  of 
the  country. 

uletide.     Christmastide,  from  the  Norse  juul,  Christmas. 


384  Zadkiel— Zuyder  Zee 


Zadkiel.  The  literary  sobriquet  of  Lieutenant  Richard 
James  Morrison,  author  of  "The  Prophetic  Almanack," 
after  the  angel  of  the  planet  Jupiter  in  the  Jewish 
mythology. 

Zantippe.  After  the  wife  of  Socrates,  whose  name  has 
become  proverbial  for  a  bad-tempered  spouse. 

Zanzibar.  A  European  inversion  of  the  Arabic  Ber-ez-Zuig, 
the  coast  of  the  Zangis,  or  Negroes. 

Zeeland.  Expresses  the  Dutch  for  "  Sea-land,"  land  re- 
claimed from  the  sea. 

Zenith  City  of  the  Unsalted  Seas.  Duluth,  so  called 
from  its  picturesque  situation  at  the  western  extremity 
of  the  Great  Lakes. 

Zoroastrianism.  The  religious  system  of  the  "  Parsees  "  or 
Fire- worshippers,  introduced  into  Persia  by  Zoroaster 
circa  B.C.  500. 

Zounds.  A  corruption  of  "His  Wounds,"  or  the  Five 
Sacred  Wounds  on  the  Body  of  the  Redeemer.  This 
oath  was  first  employed  by  John  Perrot,  a  natural  son 
of  Henry  VIII.  Queen  Elizabeth  was  much  addicted 
to  the  exclamation  "His  Wounds,"  but  the  ladies  of 
her  Court  softened  it  into  "Zounds"  and  "Zouterkins." 

Zurich.  From  the  Latin  Thuricum,  in  honour  of  Thuricus, 
the  son  of  Theodoric,  who  rebuilt  the  city  after  it  had 
been  destroyed  by  Attila. 

Zuyder  Zee.  Properly  Zuider  Zee,  the  Dutch  for  "Southern 
Sea,"  relative  to  the  North  Sea  or  German  Ocean. 


THE  RIVERSIDE  PRESS  LIMITED,  EDINBURGH.' 


THIS  BOOK  IS  DUE  ON  THE  LAST  DATE 
STAMPED  BELOW 


AN  INITIAL  FINE  OF  25  CENTS 

WILL  BE  ASSESSED  FOR  FAILURE  TO  RETURN 
THIS  BOOK  ON  THE  DATE  DUE.  THE  PENALTY 
WILL  INCREASE  TO  50  CENTS  ON  THE  FOURTH 
DAY  AND  TO  $1.00  ON  THE  SEVENTH  DAY 
OVERDUE. 


SEP     3    1943 


#^2ja§. 


ftEC  Q  LD 


APR    3  7962 


2^cV6^S 


R£C'0  LD 


OCT  7  k  '65  -6  P» 


OCT  1  8  1968  9  4 

received 


&& 


TJ*** 


4^Et 


a* 


^ 


